Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress his Department has made in achieving this 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of his Department is being monitored; if so, the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of his Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13126/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Department promotes energy saving on an ongoing basis. It is participating in the recently launched "Optimising Power @ Work", the Staff Energy Awareness Campaign, which is being led by the Office of Public Works. This initiative, aims to achieve a minimum of 15% reduction in total annual carbon dioxide emissions, through an intensive effort to raise staff energy awareness, promote efficiency in respect of all energy consuming processes and achieve best practices in energy efficiency throughout the Department's buildings.

The Department is planning to participate in the Government Supplies Agency tender for a new electricity contract for 2008/2010 which will include requests for the supply of a significant proportion of green electricity to properties occupied by the Department.

In addition, the Department already uses a number of energy-saving devices, such as energy efficient lights, "powersave" function on electrical office equipment and photocopiers with duplex (double-sided copying) facilities. At present energy audits are being undertaken by the Office of Public Works to monitor current energy use and identify key factors that influence energy levels in buildings occupied by my Department. The results of these audits will be studied and used as a baseline against which future energy use will be measured and monitored.