Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1406: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason the stricter energy standards for houses were delayed between 1998 and 2003; if the result is that up to 250,000 houses were built which are 35% less energy efficient than they might be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25527/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Thermal performance and insulation standards for new dwellings under Part L of the building regulations have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992 and are due for further upward adjustment by 2008.

The national climate change strategy, or NCCS, proposed that Part L standards be significantly increased in two phases, in mid-2002 and 2005. The NCCS stated that the planned increases were contingent on the outcome of an independent study, commissioned by the Building Regulations Advisory Body, BRAB, on the impact of the proposed further increase in thermal performance standards on, inter alia, building systems. The relevant report by the Energy Research Group UCD concluded that the most commonly used house-building systems could all be insulated to comply with the proposed Part L regime, subject to minor adjustments in the proposed standards.

Consequently, it was decided to bring forward the planned second phase, 2005, amendment of the Part L regulations and to implement the planned increases in thermal performance standards in a single step. Following a public consultation process, amending Part L regulations were made in 2002 for new dwellings commencing on or after 1 January 2003. The greatly enhanced Part L standards will reduce energy required for domestic space heating by an estimated 23% to 33%, depending on the type and size of dwelling.