Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if all public buildings have met energy efficiency targets as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25179/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that the public sector leads the way on energy efficiency with a mandatory programme of efficiency measures, including the sole use of energy efficient lighting and heating in offices, schools hospitals and other public buildings to produce 33% energy savings by 2020. I published the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan in May of this year setting out the actions being taken by Government to achieve 20% energy efficiency savings right across the economy by 2020, including the more ambitious target of 33% for the public sector. Given the challenge presented by the national target and more importantly, the opportunities for considerable savings in energy costs and emissions reductions, it is right that the public sector should fulfil an exemplar role.

As part of the mechanisms for delivery of the National Action Plan, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has been tasked with coordinating public sector actions and with monitoring and recording the energy and CO2 savings achieved. The energy efficiency savings potential will, of course, vary from one public sector body to another. Every public sector body will be expected to contribute significantly to meeting the Government's overall global target of 33%. This requires a galvanising of all players across the public sector.

The National Action Plan sets out the range of energy efficiency policies and measures already in place or planned right across the public sector. I am taking this opportunity to outline some of the key initiatives which I asked my own Department to take forward this year.

Regulations are being finalised in my Department that will include new energy efficient public procurement rules and these will be in place in the coming months. These new rules will require public bodies to purchase or lease only plant and equipment across a diverse range of technologies that are listed on SEI's database of highly energy efficient products. This database was developed as part of the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme for energy efficient technologies. It covers 29 different classes of technology, including lighting, boilers and information technology.

SEI is also tasked in these regulations with producing general guidelines on energy efficient procurement and these will be progressed in conjunction with the new OPW National Public Procurement Office. I have provided some €6 million to SEI in 2009 for two new energy efficiency programmes for the public sector. €1 million of these funds is available for a new Public Sector Energy Efficiency Programme and €5 million for a new Scheme of Supports for Exemplar Energy Efficiency Projects.

The Public Sector Energy Efficiency Programme is designed as the main delivery mechanism for coordinating and encouraging energy efficiency actions by other public sector bodies. It is providing free energy assessments of up to 400 public buildings in 2009. It is providing professional advice on energy management and energy efficiency improvement measures and aims to train 150 public sector building managers this year. SEI is also developing best practice guidance materials and facilitating specialist workshops on matters such as public street lighting, water services, and ICT.

The new Scheme of Supports for Exemplar Energy Efficiency Projects provides grants to public bodies for specific retrofit energy efficiency projects. A similar parallel programme of the same name is available to the private sector. To be eligible for support, projects have had to demonstrate that they are innovative, lead to significant energy savings and have high value in terms of the showcasing of savings opportunities to the wider public sector. The scheme closed at the end of September and attracted some 49 applications from right across the public sector, including schools, Government offices, local authorities and hospitals. For the Exchequer's investment of €5 million in this Scheme, SEI estimates that the supported projects will deliver annual energy savings of €2.5 million.