Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress his Department has achieved in reducing its carbon footprint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51135/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department, along with all public sector bodies, is committed to achieving a 33% reduction in energy usage by 31st December, 2020, over a baseline of energy used in 2009 - a target set out in S.I. 426 of 2014. It is therefore fully engaged in the Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme.

By the end of December, 2017, my Department had achieved a reduction of 32.4% in energy use, and is on course to meet the 33% target ahead of the deadline.

As reported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) a reduction of 43% in greenhouse gas emissions between 2009 and 2017 was recorded for my Department.

My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment , the SEAI and the Optimising Power at Work scheme to continue to achieve reductions in energy use at our offices.