Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the fitting out and provision of maintenance services, including light fittings, to Government Departments and certain other State Agencies.

In accordance with its Environmental Policy Statement, my Department is fully committed to the effective management of our consumption of energy resources. This is a critical element of our ongoing accreditation to ISO 14001 which we achieved for our headquarters offices in 2003. We are working towards achieving this certification for all our offices.

My Department's policy is to use a number of energy saving devices such as energy efficient lights, powersave function on electrical office equipment and photocopiers with duplex facilities. This has led to energy consumption in the Department's headquarters decreasing from 982,000 kilo Watt hours in 2003 to just over 948,000 kilo Watt hours in 2005.

My Department has committed to obtaining its electricity from renewable sources and following a tender process, under the auspices of the Office of Public Works, a contract is now in place with Energia for the supply of electricity from renewable sources to the Department's main offices.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the bulk of my Department's Dublin based operations are being decentralised to four locations in the South East. In collaboration with the OPW, my Department has set very high environmental specifications for its decentralised offices. It is intended that the new offices will incorporate many of the latest developments in sustainable construction, energy conservation and use of renewable energy sources.

While the day to day operation of the Agencies are a matter for the Agencies themselves, I am advised that in keeping with Government policy on energy efficiency, most of the Agencies under the remit of my Department are active in promoting energy conservation in their offices including, for example, the use of low energy light fittings, solar panels and other renewable sources of energy. In some instances, heating systems are modified to facilitate temperature control in individual offices. My Department is also undertaking a review of the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Residential Density to take account of changing population and settlement patterns and the extensive experience built up since the introduction of the 1999 guidelines in the design, assessment and development of higher density proposals.

I have noted that many of the policies and measures outlined by the Urban Forum in their recent paper, such as NSS alignment of NDP expenditure, implementation of the Regional Planning Guidelines and the Atlantic Gateways Initiative, are already being addressed by my Department. I am confident that the continuing implementation of these policies outlined above will have a positive influence on bringing about more compact urban design and sustainable development within the consolidated area of the capital into the future.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to increase the energy efficiency of homes here by 40% as recently stated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7491/07]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the fact that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council have agreed to change their county development plan to improve the energy efficiency of all new building developments greater than 10 dwellings from 2008, it is time that his Department produce regulations that would require all local authorities to set such targets for local area plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7469/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 167 together.

Thermal performance and insulation standards under Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992. I am committed to updating these standards on a continuous and regular basis in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. (2002/91/EC).

This Government has improved the energy performance of buildings three times since 1997. I will shortly be announcing the further review of these standards with the intention of improving energy efficiency of new Irish homes by 40% or more relative to current standards. Once adopted, the revised Regulations will apply nationally.

The approach adopted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in regard to energy efficiency in housing schemes of more than 10 houses will be useful in the review of the existing standards. The approach adopted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown was commended by my Department.

It should be noted that Ireland's building energy standards compare very well internationally. Data produced by the European Insulation Manufacturers Association showed that Ireland's insulation standards are among the highest in the EU. We have the second lowest energy loss through walls behind Sweden and the lowest loss of energy through roofs.

On the broader energy efficiency issue, I noted German newspaper reports last week that a study by the German Economic Institute showed that Ireland was the most energy efficient nation among industrial nations studied by the Institute.