Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures being taken by his Department to encourage a carbon reduction policy in the concrete industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43713/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Green Tenders – An Action Plan on Green Public Procurement was published in 2012 by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The overall objective of the Plan is to assist public authorities successfully to plan and implement green public procurement (GPP) by highlighting existing best-practice and outlining further actions to boost GPP.  With regard to the construction sector, which includes the concrete industry, the Plan acknowledges the importance of good choice of materials (including cement). In accordance with the Plan, all materials used in construction should be assessed for environmental impacts (including carbon reduction) over the appropriate appraisal period for the project. Public procurers should consider the impacts of the most commonly used materials including embodied energy (and associated CO2 and other pollutants) and should ensure that the environmental advantages claimed by material suppliers can be verified.