Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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82. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps being taken to ensure the public sector will meet his Department's commitment per the annual transition statement of reducing energy demand by 33% by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5818/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Since the 2009 National Energy Efficiency Action Plan public sector bodies have an obligation to achieve 33% energy efficiency by 2020.  Considerable progress has already been made.  The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency performance shows that by end 2015 public sector bodies had achieved a 21% improvement in their energy efficiency. This progress is of strategic importance for reducing public sector spend on energy, reducing energy imports and reducing and harmful emissions.  Energy saved in 2015 alone reduced energy spend by €154 million and cut emissions by 548,000 tonnes.

Achieving the full target will deliver further savings and emissions reductions.  Much of the improvement in energy efficiency achieved to date has resulted from smarter use of energy and behavioural change measures.  Making the further progress needed will significantly depend on ensuring the prioritisation of structured energy management and the delivery of a pipeline of larger scale energy efficiency projects in areas such as the built environment and transport. 

To support further progress I am about to publish the first Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy, which was approved by Government in December.  Public Sector bodies are now mandated to implement the strategy, to be published on my Department's website in the coming days.  It positions us strongly to achieve the 33% target.  Its key provisions to complement the existing suite of supports include:-

- identifying where most potential exists for further energy efficiency gains and outlining the technical guidance and financial supports available to help public sector bodies further understand their energy use, identify cost effective energy efficiency projects and develop business cases for a strong project pipeline;

- a new governance structure – to create accountability and allow strategic decision making on energy efficiency investments across the public sector; 

- enhanced project development assistance with €3m being made available through my Department in 2017 for a pilot of renovation projects in the OPW central Government portfolio in partnership with the SEAI;   

- providing clarity on the retention of savings achieved by public bodies through energy efficiency.