The Sunday Business Post claims to have obtained figures showing Government plans, which are ahead of the European target of a 20 per cent cut in energy use by 2020, will provide ample savings.

Before measures to cut energy consumption are rolled out across the nation, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is being audited by the Office of Public Works and Sustainable Energy Ireland.

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan told the paper: “We’ve introduced an energy management system in our department where our own staff are looking to see exactly how can we reduce our energy usage.”

He added: “I think it’s perfectly possible for us to make a one-third saving in our energy use by employing really basic energy efficiency measures.”

If government plans for the 33 per cent reduction are successful, carbon emissions will drop 700,000 a year while saving €2.4 billion over the next 12 years.

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