Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1074: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date on which the new national building standards will be introduced as outlined in the June 2007 Programme for Government. [19937/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government provides for a Revision of the Building Regulations to "introduce new national building standards in 2007 to ensure that new housing has 40% lower heat energy demand than existing buildings standards and revise them again in 2010 to achieve a 60% target in further years".

In keeping with that commitment, I published draft Building Regulations under Part L of the Building Regulations on 21 September 2007. These draft Regulations provide for a reduction of, on average, at least 40% in primary energy consumption and a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition, for the first time, the measures will introduce: a minimum requirement for the use of renewable energy sources; energy-efficient boilers; energy-efficient artificial lighting systems; and improved airtightness of the building fabric. The draft Regulations provide for a commencement date of 1 July, 2008.

The draft Regulations and associated Technical Guidance Document are now the subject of a public consultation process, which will continue to 26 October, 2007. On completion of the consultation process, all submissions received will be comprehensively assessed and given due consideration prior to finalising new Building Regulations before the end of the year.