Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Finance his carbon footprint and that of each Minister of State in his Department; the change in this footprint after one year in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33337/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The website of the Government's climate change awareness campaign, www.change.ie, provides a carbon calculator which enables everyone to work out their own carbon footprint. Using this tool, my Department has estimated that the carbon emissions in respect of air travel arising in the course of the ministerial functions of the Minister for Finance, amounted to 5.5 tonnes in the year to 30 September 2008, which will be fully offset under the Government's carbon offsetting scheme for official travel. The figures for the previous year are of a similar level. The Department of Justice has advised that the figures in respect of official travel by car are not readily available.

The Office of Public Works has advised that the carbon emissions arising from the functions of the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, in the year to 30 September 2008, were 9.34 tonnes of which 4.32 tonnes arose from air travel. The figures for the previous year were 13.26 tonnes of which 2.28 arose from air travel.