Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the works or measures that have taken place in 2007 to make his Departmental buildings more environmentally friendly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32396/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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During 2007, two major building projects have been undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of my Department.

Construction of the new Irish Aid Headquarters building in Limerick is well advanced and will be completed in the first quarter of 2008. Work is nearing completion on the new Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre building in O'Connell Street, Dublin.

I understand from the OPW that these buildings incorporate significant environmentally friendly design elements, such as low energy light fittings. Furthermore, the building in Limerick will have natural ventilation, which reduces the need for energy consuming air handling systems, and the building in Dublin is equipped with an air conditioning heat recovery system, which reduces energy demand.