Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to require all schools in receipt of capitation funding to implement targeted energy efficiency programmes to cut wasteful usage of lighting, heating and electronic equipment; his views on the opinion that existing voluntary projects show the potential to save 15 – 40% of schools’ energy costs within two years, using models and guidance provided by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland but unknown to most schools; his views on whether such energy efficiencies could save up to €15 million annually on the €200 million cost of capitation funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43098/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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For the past fifteen years the Planning and Building Unit of my Department have been using a process called the DART approach to develop sustainability and energy efficiency in educational buildings. This acronym focuses on four key areas, namely; Design, Awareness, Research and Technology. The policy is informed by the Building Unit Professional and Technical staff, driven by its technical guidance documents and updated by continued energy research and development.