Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [13121/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is participating in the recently launched Government Energy Awareness Campaign, in co-operation with the Office of Public Works, with the aim of achieving a 15% reduction in carbon emissions across a number of State buildings located throughout the country over an eighteen month period. My Department's offices at Parkgate, Dublin 7, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 and Galway city are included in the campaign.

As part of this campaign, officials of my Accommodation Branch are working closely with consultants appointed by the Office of Public Works to actively monitor and manage energy usage. These measures are financed from current and capital expenditure. A number of workshops have recently been held in my Department in order to encourage active staff involvement and awareness of the campaign with a view to achieving the targeted reductions.

Prior to the current campaign, a number of initiatives have been undertaken in my Department that support energy awareness. My Department's headquarters at Infirmary Road, Dublin 7 was reopened in 1997 following a complete refurbishment to the highest standards and it has been maintained in an energy efficient condition since then. An ongoing refurbishment programme which is being carried out on my Department's offices in Galway has regard to energy conservation considerations, such as installing double glazed windows and improving insulation. These refurbishments will contribute to greater energy efficiency and a reduction in heating costs.

My Department's proposed new headquarters in Newbridge, Co Kildare will be built having regard to best practice for energy efficiency. An Energy Awareness campaign for the Defence Forces, supported by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), was launched in Mar 2007 to increase the awareness of personnel at all levels of the importance of the efficient use of energy in Defence Force posts. Training courses in the area of Energy Management have been held, energy managers have been appointed for each barracks. Funding has also been made available for energy efficiency measures. Pilot projects in the area of energy management and sustainable energy have been put in place. Buildings are constantly being retrofitted to improve energy performance, e.g. installation of double glazed windows, Building Energy Management Systems, Insulation improvements etc.

The Director of Engineering, who has responsibility for the Utilities budget has carried out inspections to assess progress. His office is also in the process of preparing a detailed energy policy document and handbook for the Defence Forces. All new buildings and refurbishments carried out by the Defence Forces meet the highest energy efficiency standards.