Written answers

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

EU Directives

10:00 am

Photo of Fiona O'MalleyFiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will explain his decision in January 2007 to further delay the introduction of the BER directive 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4819/07]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, which I signed into law on 19 December 2006, provide for the introduction of Building Energy Rating on a phased basis, as follows:new dwellings, with effect from 1 January 2007; new non-domestic buildings, with effect from 1 July 2008; and all existing buildings when sold or let, with effect from 1 January 2009.

The implementation deadlines set out in the regulations are in line with those published in Ireland's implementation Action Plan, save for a change in the transitional exemption period for new dwellings for which planning permission had been applied for before the end of December 2006. The exemption ceases as originally intended at 30 June 2008 unless substantial work has been completed. All new dwellings are covered from 30 June 2008; this date has not changed.

Sustainable Energy Ireland has primary responsibility for practical implementation of this Directive and the change to the transitional provision enables the roll out of a substantial number of trained and registered BER Assessors in the first half of 2007 and allows Sustainable Energy Ireland to complete the setting up a system for the smooth and efficient administration and oversight of the BER certification system.

Photo of Fiona O'MalleyFiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in putting in place a system for training independent building inspectors to operate the building energy rating directive 2002 in order to facilitate compliance with Ireland's legal requirements under this directive by 1 January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4820/07]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Building Energy Rating will be carried out by assessors registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), who have successfully completed training which meets the requirements of the Training Specification published by SEI on 6 October 2006. A copy of the specification has been placed on the SEI website: www.sei.ie/epbd, and also in the Oireachtas Library.

I understand that 62 assessors had successfully completed the training course organized by the Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology which was held at three venues, Dublin, Cork and Galway by the end of 2006. I also understand that the training courses of two other Institutes have recently been accredited and they should be in a position to offer courses in the near future. A number of other organisations are also in the process of seeking accreditation for such courses.

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