David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the outcomes of her Department’s Resource Efficiency Action Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60516/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Government Decision S180/20/10/0434C of 3 January 2019 on the topic of Single Use Plastics, Prevention of Waste and Green Public Procurement, instructed that each public body must report to its respective Minister, by end-November 2019, on the measures being taking to minimise waste generation and to maximise recycling.

The Decision also instructed departments to eliminate single-use plastic beverage cups, cutlery and drinking straws from end January, 2019 and included an instruction to Government Departments to publish a Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP) for headquarters buildings.

My Department completed its REAP for its Head Office building at 51 Saint Stephen’s Green in 2019 and has since extended it to 10 other buildings in the Justice portfolio for 2020 and 2021

As requested by the Deputy, the outcomes of my Department’s REAP since 2019, as published on our website, are detailed below.

Energy Awareness 

The Energy Performance Officers’ Forum, The Energy Managers’ Forum and the Green Team cover all sites and were established in 2019.  The Energy Forum provides expertise and leadership to Justice-sector bodies at senior level. The Energy Managers’ Forum provides knowledge-sharing to Justice-sector Energy Managers and the Green Team raises awareness on sustainability and energy issues among Justice staff.

Electricity

- Fluorescent lights replaced with LEDs on two floors of Head Office at 51 St Stephen’s Green;

- Air conditioning systems replaced with more energy efficient units at two of our sites – Hanover Street in Dublin 2 and Chapter House. 26-30 Abbey St Dublin 1. 

Thermal

- Gas boiler replaced with LPG at our offices at Deerpark Road Killarney, Co Kerry;

- Feasibility study on the rollout of solar PV on suitable roof areas at our Head Office site in 51 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2.

Water

Water barrel purchased to harvest rainwater from downpipe for watering biodiversity area in the summer months at the Department’s site in Killarney Co Kerry.

Waste Management

- Individual bins replaced with centralised waste stations at several sites across the building portfolio;

- Cleaning staff and departmental staff advised of proper waste separation.

Biodiversity

- Installation of bee hives on the roof at our Head Office site at 51 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2;

- Re-wilding, planting of pollinator-friendly flowerbeds and native trees at our site in Killarney Co Kerry.

The Deputy may wish to note that in 2019, an Energy Performance Officers’ Forum was established across the Justice sector, bringing together senior managers with budgetary responsibility for energy and expenditure on projects to reduce energy use.

An Energy Managers’ Forum was also established for Facilities and Accommodation Managers with day-to-day responsibility for energy use, recycling, waste disposal and other environmental considerations; and a Green Team,  with members from across various grades and business units, has also been established, with the aim of advancing the sustainability agenda through awareness campaigns, events, and actions.

Finally, my Department submits energy usage data annually to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) through the Monitoring and Reporting system (M&R). The report for 2021 indicates that the Department achieved energy efficiency savings of 42.4%.