Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the checks being made by his Department to ensure that the building regulations in respect of the need for certain radon remediation measures in houses built since 1998 are being adhered to. [22217/07]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the checks being made by his Department to ensure that the building regulations that require certain measures regarding energy efficiency in the building of new housing are adhered to. [22218/07]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the standards that apply to the building by local authorities of housing in respect of the need for radon remediation measures; and the checks carried out by his Department to ensure these standards are met. [22219/07]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the standards that apply to the building by local authorities of housing in respect of the need for more energy efficient housing; and the checks carried out by his Department to ensure these standards are met. [22220/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 to 134, inclusive, together.

The Building Control Act 1990 assigns primary responsibility for complying with the Building Regulations to the owners and builders of buildings. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations is vested in the 37 local Building Control Authorities, who are empowered to carry out inspections of buildings and initiate enforcement action, where appropriate.

In common with all developments, local authority housing projects must comply with the Building Regulations as well as local requirements under Development Plans. Part C of the regulations deals with site preparation and includes a provision regarding potentially dangerous substances in the ground such as radon. The standards relating to radon defence measures are set out in the Technical Guidance Document accompanying Part C.

Energy efficiency is covered in Part L of the regulations. I intend to strengthen these provisions to achieve a 40% improvement in the energy performance of buildings over current standards and have recently published, for public consultation, a new draft Part L and Technical Guidance Document. I will be making the new Regulations later this year and intend that they will take effect from 1 July, 2008. My Department also set out best practice in relation to energy efficient design in Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities, published earlier this year.

Proposals for the construction of social housing are examined by my Department's inspectorate, and these matters form part of their assessment. In addition, it is intended to commence a survey of the social housing stock, including an assessment of radon concentration levels and energy efficiency, in 2008.