Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether it is time that his Department produced regulations, in view of the fact that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has agreed to change its county development plan to improve the energy efficiency of all new building developments greater than ten dwellings from 2008, that would require all local authorities to set such targets for local area plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7763/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Thermal performance and insulation standards under Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992. We are committed to updating these standards every five years in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. (2002/91/EC).

This Government has improved the energy performance of buildings three times since 1997. The next phase of this programme provides for upgrading of standards under Part L which will come into effect in 2008. I have directed my Department to bring forward proposals that will improve energy efficiency of new Irish homes by 40% relative to current standards. Once adopted, the Regulations will apply nationally.

The approach adopted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in regard to energy efficiency in housing schemes of more than 10 houses, will be useful in the review of the existing standards, details of which I propose to announce as part of Ireland's Climate Change Strategy.