Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 583: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the policy to train and employ building inspectors to certify public buildings under the building energy rating regulation in 2008; and the number of inspectors employed by his Department at present. [17589/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer to the reply to Question No. 228 of 9 April 2008.

The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, introduced a requirement for a Building Energy Rating System, or BER as it is more commonly known. The BER system is being implemented under the Regulations in 4 phases:

BER for new dwellings was introduced with effect from 1 January 2007, with a transitional exemption applying to new dwellings for which planning permission was applied for on or before 31 December 2006, and provided they are substantially completed by 30 June 2008;

BER for new non-domestic buildings will commence from 1 July 2008, with a transitional exemption applying for buildings for which planning permission was applied for on or before 30 June 2008 and provided they are substantially completed by 30 June, 2010;

BER for existing buildings of any class being offered for sale or letting will commence from 1 January, 2009; and

BER for all new public service buildings will come into effect from 1 July 2008, subject to the transitional arrangements applying to new non-domestic buildings, and will be applicable to existing large public service buildings from 1 January 2009. For new public service buildings, it is proposed that the methodology for new non-domestic buildings, which I will be introducing in June 2008, will be applied and that the BER will be produced off the plans at design stage. In relation to existing public service buildings, the Regulations provide that a public body, in respect of a large building — defined as a building with a total useful floor area in excess of 1,000 metre square — occupied by it on or after 1 January, 2009, must secure and display a BER certificate. The BER certificate must be in a prescribed form and must be displayed in a prominent place clearly visible to the public. The prescribed form will be determined in sufficient time to meet the 1 January 2009 deadline.

It is likely that the BER certificate for display on large public service buildings will be based on operational ratings i.e. measured energy use. The purpose of the rating will be to provide information regarding the energy use of the building by the current occupant and it can also be used to show improvements over time.

The assessment for a BER for new large public buildings or such buildings offered for sale or rent, will be carried out by a specially trained BER Assessor operating within the private sector. While trained BER Assessors will be required for the certification of new public service buildings and such buildings offered for sale or rent, final decisions remain to be taken in respect of existing public service buildings.