Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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269. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress in emission reduction targets in areas that are the responsibility of his Department; which measures are particularly successful and which measures are underperforming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67048/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits Ireland to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 relative to 2018, on average 7% per annum over the decade, and to becoming a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 gives legal underpinning to climate action by the public sector. It requires all public bodies to perform their functions in a manner that is consistent with Ireland’s climate ambition. My department continues to make substantial progress towards achieving its overall energy targets.

My department continues to adhere to the protocols, policies and procedures as set out in Circular 20/2019, in regard to Green Public Procurement (GPP). GPP sets out the principles which underpin public procurement law and remind public bodies of their obligations stemming from other relevant government policy and national and EU legislation to ensure all procurement is as sustainable as possible.

The Department’s Climate and Sustainability Champion is responsible for implementing and reporting annually on the Public Sector Mandate in the Department. The Department’s Energy Performance Officer also plays a key, critical role, as do all staff working within the Department. It should be noted, at this early stage, that my department shares a number of buildings and services with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER). The Facilities Management Unit (FMU) has responsibility for a lot of the energy management, awareness and initiatives for both Departments.

My department remains on track to meet the energy efficiency and energy reduction targets set out by the SEAI. All Public Sector Bodies are required to reduce their annual energy usage by 50% before 2030, when compared to the annual usage in a nominated baseline year for reporting, which is 2009, along with separate Fossil CO2 and Total CO2 emissions targets. The most recent figures show my department has achieved the usage target and is on track to meet the emissions targets.