Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

119. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will request a full assessment of the existing heating and lighting systems at Glendalough visitor centre; his plans regarding upgrading to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly options at this location and other OPW-owned buildings in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56300/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Office of Public Works has a proven track record of success with energy efficiency in its property portfolio. The Optimising Power @ Work programme is a large-scale energy awareness campaign involving the largest 275 Central Government buildings. This accounts for approximately 80% of the energy usage in the OPW portfolio. Through this initiative, average annual savings of over 25% have been achieved.

As part of this programme, the OPW has completed Energy Audits in over 250 large buildings. Each Energy Audit contains a “Register of Opportunities” of potential energy saving projects that can be carried out in each particular building.

Due to limited resources, it is necessary to prioritise the identified projects based on those that will achieve the best energy efficiency improvements, highest carbon reductions and quickest payback periods.

Energy Audits have been completed in the following large buildings in County Wicklow: Bray Courthouse, Arklow Intreo Office, Wicklow Government Offices and Bray Intreo Offices.

Further to the Deputy’s request, I shall ask that the relevant officials in my Department complete an initial energy audit of Glendalough Visitor Centre.

Since 2017, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have provided significant funding for energy efficiency retrofit projects in Central Government buildings. The programme is a joint venture between DECC/SEAI and OPW. The energy retrofits carried out mainly comprised lighting, heating and controls systems upgrades. To date the OPW have completed approximately 120 projects through this initiative.

The OPW is currently collaborating with SEAI to deliver a “Building Retrofit Pathfinder Programme” with overall funding of (€30M). The shared objectives of SEAI and OPW is to develop a scalable model for energy management and retrofit investment in OPW’s building stock in the achievement of national policy targets. The learnings from this initiative shall be used to inform a large scale retrofit programme in the portfolio in the coming years.