Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Energy Efficiency

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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689. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his assessment of the progress being made in achieving binding European Union measures for energy efficiency by the State by 2020, pursuant to the energy efficiency directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13041/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The EU has set a target of a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. While the target is not binding, implementation of a comprehensive range of measures set out in the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive is obligatory and supports the rationale for a national energy improvement target of 20%. This target is equivalent to 31,925 Gigawatt hours (GWh) and includes a target of 33% for improvement in energy efficiency in the public sector.

The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) provides the policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland and includes the measures through which the Energy Efficiency Directive is being implemented here. In April 2014 my Department submitted Ireland’s third NEEAP to the European Commission, reporting our progress to end 2012. At that point Ireland had recorded savings of 11,419 GWh, representing 36% of our national target. That figure had risen to 14,764 GWh by end 2013, or 46%.

A particular focus of my Department, in co-operation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), has been on the public sector target. A Public Sector Energy Efficiency Action Plan is in preparation with a view to its completion by the middle of this year. The purpose of the Action Plan is to set out the actions that each sector within the public service could take to build upon the progress made to date towards the 2020 target.

Other key deliverables for Ireland's implementation of the Directive include the establishment of Ireland’s first National Energy Efficiency Fund to provide financing for large scale energy efficiency projects in both the public and private sectors, and an Obligation Scheme for large energy suppliers requiring them to work with their customers to meet mandatory energy savings targets. The continuing delivery of the Better Energy programme by SEAI is also an important area of action. I was pleased to announce increased support levels for the Better Energy Homes scheme recently. While one in six homes in Ireland have received energy efficiency upgrades under the Better Energy programme, maintaining the momentum on domestic retrofit will remain a central priority in the coming years.

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