Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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173. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department is part of the public sector energy reporting programme; if so, the percentage of improvement in energy efficiency to date that has been achieved; the way in which this was achieved; if his Department noted a decrease in energy efficiency in view of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for energy efficiency targets; if targets will be met by the 2020 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47586/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The public sector has a target to improve its energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. All Public sector Bodies are legally required to report their energy performance annually to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) System, established by SEAI on behalf of my department, enables public bodies and schools to track their energy efficiency performance and facilitates them in their energy management.

The most recently published data (available from SEAI Annual Report 2017 on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance) covers the period to end 2016. It shows that my department had by then achieved a cumulative 19.9% energy improvement. In 2017, the department launched the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy (PSEES) which was approved by Government to support the additional effort needed to meet the 33% target. The Group my Department heads comprises 16 bodies, including the Department itself, is one of the strongest performing groups, having achieved 31% energy efficiency to end 2016.

This improved energy performance in my department was achieved by:

- participation in the OPW Optimising Power @ Work (OP@W) initiative;

- introduction of a Building Management System to enable better energy monitoring and management;

- upgrading the heating system in the Department's HQ building to allow for zonal targeting and switch off during holiday periods;

- rollout of energy efficient networked printers and photocopiers;

- upgrading to more efficient LED lights, where appropriate;

- insulation works in part of our HQ building;

- energy awareness days and efficiency notices displayed throughout the buildings.

Further energy efficiency opportunities will be identified as part of a recent energy audit under the OP@W initiative. This should provide a basis to deliver further energy efficiency improvements.

I fully expect that when the figures for 2017 are published later this month they will show a further significant efficiency improvement for the department. Based on progress to date I remain confident that my Department and its Group will be successful in achieving the 2020 target. We will also continue to work with other Departments through the Governance structures set up under the PSEES, with the assistance of SEAI and the OPW, to provide guidance and support to the Departmental Energy Performance Officers and their groups to manage their performance so that the overall national target can be achieved.