Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress under the national energy efficiency action plan on retrofitting Government and public buildings; if the financial and environmental savings are known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44807/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) Ireland set a target of improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. At the same time a more challenging target was set for the public sector of 33%. Significant progress is being made on energy efficiency in the public sector. The Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance, which will be published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) this month, will show that, on aggregate, the reporting public sector bodies have improved their energy efficiency by 17%. This means we are half way to the 33% target. The reported energy efficiency gains for 2014 amount to 1,840 gigawatt hours (GWh) which equates to a reduction in harmful emissions of 418,000 tonnes of CO2. This reduction in energy use has led to a saving on energy spend of €121 million for 2014, with cumulative savings of €424 million having been made since the baseline year of 2009.

While this progress is very positive, there can be no room for complacency. There will be a need for more, large scale, projects if the 33% target is to be reached. The Public Sector Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which I will publish early in 2016, will further strengthen governance requirements, set clear objectives for actions in areas such as the built environment and public utilities and enhance project development assistance.