Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Social and Family 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. [32399/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department relies on the Office of Public Works for the design, construction or refurbishment of its offices and is guided by them in achieving improvements in environmental conditions. While overall responsibility for such technical matters and energy audits are a matter for the OPW, the Department is conscious of the need to reduce energy usage, both for economic and environmental reasons. Accordingly, it encourages prudent usage of energy by staff in line with good business practice.

In areas which fall within my Department's remit, environmental improvements have been achieved through better segregation of waste streams within the Department's offices and through increased use of recycled paper in its day to day business. My Department is committed to continuously achieving improvements in environmental conditions for both staff and customers.