Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if funding for the Sustainable Energy Ireland house of tomorrow initiative will be continued when the new building regulations are implemented in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16665/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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House of Tomorrow is a research, development and demonstration programme with a focus on stimulating widespread uptake of more sustainable energy planning, design, specification and construction practices in the Irish housing market. The aim is to develop capability in the building industry and create a growing network of visible examples of superior practice, so as to encourage higher standards across the housing market as a whole and raise the expectation of house buyers.

To date 77 demonstration projects, comprising 3,500 housing units in 25 counties, have been approved by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) for funding, as well as a further 23 projects in the fields of research, development, training and international collaboration. It is a condition of the programme that these demonstration projects show an improvement of at least 40% in thermal energy and CO2 performance standards relative to the Building Regulations 2002.

There is a growing appetite and capacity in both the house building sector and local authorities to adopt and apply the standards set in this programme. We intend to maintain the momentum of this programme as an instrument of market change. The task of improving building standards is an evolving and progressive one. Indeed, proven experience on House of Tomorrow schemes will itself help to drive regulatory change. In the event of any strengthening of the energy requirements in the Building Regulations in 2007, opportunities will be explored for still further improvements in the planning, design and construction of Ireland's housing stock to deliver more affordable, comfortable, energy secure and environmentally-friendly living conditions. Energy consumption in housing remains responsible for one quarter of national energy related greenhouse gas emissions, and requires continued priority focus.

Support will continue for sustainable energy interventions in the housing sector, including the continuation of the House of Tomorrow.