Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people qualified to conduct energy efficiency surveys of lived in dwellings as part of the building energy rating programme; if he will use January 2009 as a start date for BER ratings of used dwellings for sale and rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43135/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings was transposed into Irish law in the form of the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. In accordance with these Regulations an existing dwelling, which is offered for sale or letting on or after 1 January 2009, will require a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate similar to that currently required for new dwellings. To date 3,726 persons have successfully completed training courses with training providers accredited by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) in relation to the BER certification of new dwellings; some 903 of these trained assessors have so far registered with SEI as BER Assessors.

Existing BER Assessors who are registered with SEI to undertake BER Assessments for new dwellings may now, subject to completing a declaration of their competence and familiarity in relation to, inter alia, the survey methodology for existing dwellings and the operation of the relevant software, register as BER Assessors for existing dwellings. Over 340 persons have done so to date. SEI is confident that this number will increase considerably in the lead up to 1 January 2009.