Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 615: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the percentage of energy consumed in her Department and in all agencies for which her Department has responsibility that comes from renewable sources. [33273/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that, earlier this year the heating of my Department's office in Johnstown Castle in Wexford was switched over to a Woodchip boiler. Following a survey carried out by the Office of Public Works it has been decided to install biofuel heating systems in the following Offices of my Department; Ballina AES Office, Cavan Regional Office, Castlebar Office, Ennis Local Office, Enniscorthy Local Office, Longford Local Office, Mullingar Local Office and Nenagh Local Office. It is envisaged that the Office of Public Works will have these heating systems installed early next year.

Building Management Systems have been installed in recent years at all of my Department's Offices (including Agriculture House) with a floor area greater than 1,000 sq meters. These systems are set up to avail of off peak/low rate electricity where possible. They also control use of electricity, gas and oil in all such Offices and centrally control temperature in these Offices.

High efficiency fluorescent lighting is in place in all DAFF Offices. This lighting is considered by the OPW to be five times more energy efficient than conventional lighting. In more recently built and refurbished Department Offices, lighting control systems have been installed which automatically switch off lighting in Office areas that are unoccupied.

During 2007, the Department has continued its desktop computer upgrade programme, which involves the replacement of older models of computer with more environmentally friendly models resulting in reduced demand for electrical power. With regard to agencies under the aegis of my Department, the energy consumed is an operational matter for the bodies themselves.