Ms Orla Coyle:

The methodology that is there is what is proposed under the energy performance of buildings directive. We have been tasked with developing that calculation methodology or the associated software, which is where 2025 comes in because that is the timeline set out in the climate action plan for SEAI. A possible reason for the delay is the fact that under EU legislation, the construction product database is being reviewed. As part of that construction product database, there is talk of including an environmental certificate associated with it. The concern is that if Europe goes with a different certification scheme from the one we will use - I know a number of voluntary schemes are in place for carrying out life cycle assessments and embodied carbon calculations - and we developed something that was counter-intuitive to what was done in Europe, it could have an impact. We are waiting to see what is coming down the tracks in terms of the construction product database because we want harmonisation across Europe. We have had similar issues with the BER scheme where you might have a product that previously would not have been accounted for under the directive. We are looking for the test certificate that is in compliance with the eco-design directive. You get people who are then trying to sell their product in Ireland and we are saying we cannot take it because we want it as per the European directive, so we need to get that harmonisation right. This is why there has been a delay. We are trying to see what happens with the construction product database and what the regulatory changes will be.