Mr. John McCarthy:

A number of issues the Chair has raised relate to energy policy, particularly in terms of deep retrofitting. I will answer them to the extent that I can. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment would take the lead in rolling out local government capacity in terms of functions such as those that the Tipperary Energy Agency discharges. At a broader level, we have macro-level responsibility for the local government sector, while other Departments take the lead on particular issues. At a very broad level, as is reflected in the policy document on local government reform published in 2014, we certainly see local government expanding its role in community development and local development, which would encompass things such as local energy initiatives of this kind. However, the specific energy-related dimension is something on which the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment would lead in terms of engagement with individual local authorities.

On Part L and the requirements for new residential developments, as I outlined, we have come a long way on the journey towards nearly zero-energy buildings as far as the residential sector is concerned, through changes that were made over ten years ago. We are very much guided by NZEB and what it requires us to do to complete that journey. We are at a very advanced stage and will shortly finalise the new Part L provisions that will provide for us to get that remaining part of the way along towards NZEB. That will deal with new homes and also with the issue of retrofitting. I will ask one of my colleagues to say a little more about that in a minute.

On the approach on which the building regulations are based, I mentioned in my opening statement that they are and have always been performance based. They set the standards that are to be achieved and it is then left to the designers and promoters of developments to work out the best technology to achieve that. On the impact of the regulations and the changes that were made in 2007 and subsequently, we can trace that the performance-based approach has led to significant change. That approach will be reflected in the revised Part L regulations when they are made.

The policy on offshore energy is a matter for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment but I think the question was more about the legislation. That is complex legislation which we have been working on in collaboration with a number of other Departments for a long period. At the moment we are awaiting legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General. We expect to get that shortly. How quickly we will then be able to bring the legislation forward will dependent on what that legal advice tells us. We are very alert to the fact that the legislation is hugely important in terms of ensuring that there is an appropriate consent regime in place for the expected development of offshore renewable energy which we expect to see in the coming years.

I will ask my colleague, Ms Sarah Neary, to say a few words on the approach in the building regulations, particularly in respect of the performance-based approach.