Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Government required the exclusive purchase of CFL light bulbs for use in public bodies by the end of 2007, as announced in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007; and if not, the plans there are to introduce such a measure in the near future. [3713/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Climate Change Strategy required the public sector to use energy efficient lightening solely, in all public buildings. This was already very much in practice in buildings for which the OPW has responsibility, where fluorescent lighting has been the lighting of choice in almost all circumstances except in a very small number of instances for technical or aesthetic reasons.

Also the strategy proposed the exclusive purchase of compact fluorescent lighting in conjunction with a levy on incandescent lamps. The use of incandescent lighting is not practical in commercial or similar buildings because of the frequency of lamp replacement as well as for energy efficiency reasons and the Office of Public Works has ensured that such lighting has been used only in exceptional applications for many years now.

It is the policy of the Office of Public Works to use energy efficient lighting throughout its portfolio of buildings and every opportunity shall be used to improve efficiencies and reduce waste with the proper and economic use of technologies and heightening awareness.