Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of electricity used in the Customs House each year for the years 2002 to 2006 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13405/07]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the energy bill paid by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13404/07]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the share of his Department's energy needs met from renewable sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13406/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 53 and 81 together.

The total energy bill paid in respect of energy consumption in my Department's main offices in 2006 amounted to €502,036. I propose to circulate with the Official Report a tabular statement setting out details of electricity consumption in the Custom House for the period 2002 to 2006 inclusive. Increased consumption in 2006, following reductions in 2005, is mainly attributable to substantial refurbishment works taking place in the building during this period.

As I indicated in reply to Questions Nos. 946 and 948 of 20 March 2007, ambitious targets for renewable energy in the electricity, transport and heating sectors are contained in the Government's recently published White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland. The White Paper proposes that one third of electricity consumed in this economy will come from renewable sources by 2020. In this regard, my Department is already committed to obtaining its electricity from renewable sources. Following a tender process, under the auspices of the Office of Public Works, a contract is in place since October 2006 with Energia for the supply of electricity from renewable sources to the Department's main offices and this accounted for 44% of the energy (kWh) consumed in these offices in the last quarter of 2006.