Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an assessment of the cost savings and other benefits, to date, arising from the installation of energy-efficient public lighting as a pilot project in Crossmolina, County Mayo, in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12521/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Improving energy efficiency in the public sector offers a key opportunity to reduce both public expenditure and harmful emissions, while improving value for money and public service delivery. This is why a target of improving public sector energy efficiency by 33% by 2020 has been set as part of Ireland's National Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

Public lighting is one of the larger areas of energy use in the public sector. The implementation of energy efficient public lighting projects is led primarily by Local Authorities. The project to which the Deputy refers was developed by Mayo County Council with support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) through the Better Energy Programme. I am advised by the SEAI that very positive progress has being made by Mayo County Council on this project, which I understand has broken new ground in the approach to the technical solutions being applied and in public engagement. Furthermore, it tested new approaches to financing through using the Energy Service Company (ESCo) model. The project is expected to provide very useful lessons for other Local Authorities, among which there is considerable interest in realising the potential for greater energy efficiency, and financial savings, in public lighting. Should the Deputy wish to find out more, I recommend she contacts Mayo County Council directly. My officials can supply the relevant contact details.

I would also like to advise the Deputy that the SEAI's annual report on energy use in the public sector has been finalised and will be published shortly. A Public Sector Energy Efficiency Action Plan is also in preparation with a view to completion by the middle of this year. The purpose of the Action Plan is to set out the actions each sector within the public service can take to build upon the progress made to date towards the 2020 target.