Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reduce energy use through public lighting, with particular reference to non-LED local authority public lights. [53200/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The national project to upgrade our public lighting is led by the Local Authorities through the County & City Management Association (CCMA). Nevertheless, my Department has taken an active role in facilitating this important project, which is a flagship initiative under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy. The CCMA has identified energy efficient public lighting as the critical action to allow them comply with the obligation on all public bodies to improve energy efficiency by 33%.

To support the CCMA in this objective, my Department is involved in the project steering group, which is chaired by the CCMA. Following an intensive business planning process to identify the most cost effective approach from the perspectives of technology and delivery, I understand that the first of three planned regional tenders for upgrade works will issue in 2019, with the aim of having retrofit works underway in the first region by the end of the year. The project also made an application under the Climate Action Fund, which is administered by my Department, and was successful in the competitive process for funding support and allocated €17.47million in the first call for proposals.