Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the plans he has to follow the example of the British Government and ensure that Government offices are carbon neutral by 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26646/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Public Sector programme, operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), energy performance is enhanced through improved design, investment and management in new and refurbishment projects. This programme recognises the diversity of buildings, potential for improvement, impending regulations and directives, and the capacity to influence other sectors of the economy.

To date the public sector programme has supported over 150 projects within this sector. The annual energy savings relating to public sector approved projects is €4.4m. This represents a 39% reduction in CO2 emissions per SEI funded public sector buildings after intervention. Recently supported projects include the new civic offices for Kildare County Council, an 850kW wind turbine at Dundalk Institute of Technology, and the refurbishment and extension of Cork County Hall.

The OPW is playing a key role by establishing an energy management bureau for 200 of the largest central government offices. A web based monitoring and reporting system will enable comparison of the performance for all buildings. The bureau will identify poor and abnormal performing buildings and conduct selective energy audits to determine causes and report on remedial measures or investment opportunities. Under the recent Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive of the European Union, the public sector is required to give a lead to the rest of the economy in energy efficiency.

Officials in my Department are currently in contact with the OPW and SEI with regard to examining the possibility of installing energy efficient technologies in decentralised buildings. I will be publishing a Green Paper on Energy Policy within weeks which will launch the consultation on this and related issues with a view to publishing a White Paper towards the end of the year.