Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and cost of retrofitting projects the Commissioners of Public Works has undertaken in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, to upgrade public buildings to meet modern standards in terms of building regulations and energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39451/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works has recognised the need for an energy conservation programme and as far back as 2008 made a particular effort in this regard. The main component of this was a behavioural change programme for staff in the buildings but also included improvements to heating and lighting systems. The behavioural change programme, called Optimising Power Work, has achieved savings in the order of 22% which translates to an annual saving of €6.4million. This programme was maintained through the years, even when OPW budgets were severely cut due to recession. In 2014 the OPW expanded this programme into the wider public sector. In now operates in acute care hospitals, third level colleges and universities, prisons, EPA and local authority buildings. The table below outlines the cost of the programme for each of the requested years.

In more recent years, and as the Vote allocation improved the OPW has incrementally increased investment in this important area. The following are the number of projects undertaken in each of the years requested: