Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister provide a progress report on the implementation of the requirement for a building energy rating certificate for new buildings for sale or rent and for public buildings? Have conveyancing solicitors been informed of the requirements? Are there plans for an awareness campaign aimed at the public? The indications are that there is a lack of awareness of the new regulations among both conveyancing solicitors and the general public.

Has the Minister any information on the enforcement by local authorities of the legal requirements in their notifications of grant of permission? Will public buildings be able to comply with the requirements? A timeframe has been given such that by January 2009, all public buildings are expected to be in compliance. However, there are concerns as to whether there will be sufficient numbers of competently trained assessors to undertake the methodology outlined and to provide the certificates. I understand training is to commence in September 2008 to increase the numbers. Will that be sufficient to ensure all public buildings will be in compliance?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am grateful to the Senator for affording me the opportunity to report progress on the building energy rating certification system to the House. Securing greater energy efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions in existing and new buildings and dwellings is a priority objective of mine.

Amongst the measures I am taking to give effect to this is the introduction of new building regulations before the end of this year. These regulations will secure a 40% improvement in energy efficiency and a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions in new dwellings. In making these regulations, I will meet the commitment in the programme for Government on this subject in full.

The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, which were introduced on 19 December 2006, require that for all new dwellings for which planning permission is sought after 1 January 2007, information on energy efficiency must be provided for each dwelling in the form of a building energy rating, more commonly known as a BER. The BER provides this information in a readily recognisable form, similar to the format used to rate white goods, such as refrigerators and washing machines.

The requirement for a BER applies to all new dwellings completed after 1 July 2008, irrespective of when planning permission was sought. It will be extended to all new non-residential buildings from 1 July 2008, but with a transition period to 30 June 2010. Finally, a BER will be required for existing buildings when offered for sale or rent from 1 January 2009. The reason for putting in place these transitional arrangements for the roll-out of the BER system is a prudent and practical one — to facilitate the setting up of a system for the smooth and efficient administration and oversight of the BER certification system, involving the recruitment of staff, installation of ICT systems and so on.

I attach great importance to the provision of information to house purchasers, who are making one of the most important decisions of their lives. For them, the information contained in the BER should prove particularly useful and give all purchasers the option of choosing a more energy-efficient option where it suits their particular needs. In this regard, a BER will be accompanied by an advisory report setting out recommendations for cost-effective improvements to the energy performance of the building.

The regulations also require the designers of large buildings in excess of 1,000 sq. m to consider, at design stage, alternative energy systems, including decentralised energy supply systems based on renewable energy and combined heat and power systems. This requirement has applied to large buildings for which planning permission is applied for on or after 1 January 2007. I regard this as an important step, as it is easier to provide for improvements to buildings at the planning or design stage rather than having to make costly amendments and revisions at a later stage, when the building is under way or has been completed.

Under the regulations a public body will be required on or after 1 January 2009 to secure and display a BER certificate in a prominent place, which will be clearly visible to the public, in large buildings occupied by it. In this way, the public sector will play a lead role in the roll-out of the highest energy standards and in raising awareness in the wider business and local community of the benefits which can accrue from the building energy rating system. I am satisfied the January 2009 deadline will be met in respect of public buildings.

Qualified assessors who have completed the necessary training and been registered by Sustainable Energy Ireland will carry out assessment of buildings. I am pleased to advise Senators the overall system for the effective running of the BER system is now in place. Some 13 training providers have been approved by SEI and a total of 703 individuals have attended and passed the assessor training to date. Some 274 of these trained assessors have registered with SEI and are now in a position to undertake official ratings. The number of BER certificates issued to date remains low, at a total of 39, but I anticipate this number will begin to rise sharply as the system beds down.

Responsibility for the regulations rests with my Department but responsibility for the operational roll-out of the BER system rests with SEI. I put on record my appreciation of the excellent work undertaken by SEI in this area. My Department will continue to work closely with SEI in ensuring all the various professional bodies, such as the Law Society, the Society of Chartered Surveyors and others are aware of the legal requirements introduced under the regulations and will play their part in ensuring the effective implementation of the BER certification system.

I know the Senator has raised quite a number of questions in her contribution and any specific details should be addressed to my Department or my colleagues. We would be more than happy to answer such questions.

Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive reply. I will take him up on his offer and put the other questions into writing. As the Minister stated, it is a very critical aspect of our own campaign to ensure we conserve energy and utilise it efficiently in an overall campaign to control climate change. I wish the Minister all the best in his work at the Department.