Written answers

Thursday, 5 February 2009

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Energy Ratings

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a standard cost for BER assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3831/09]

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 32: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the BER process has been compromised by recent discoveries of inconsistent ratings on the same property by different assessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3838/09]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 32 together.

I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 1041, 1042, 1061 and 1111 of 27 January 2009.

In order to encourage the development of a competitive cost environment, and in line with other EU Member States, no standard fee for Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments has been set. There are currently almost 1,700 BER assessors registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and this number is expected to grow, given that over 4,800 persons have successfully completed training. The conditions for a healthy competitive market for this service, are, therefore, in place and a downward pressure on the cost of BER assessments is already evident. As with all services, home owners are advised to shop around for the best deal available.

In relation to recent media reports of inconsistent ratings, the position is that, when a registered BER assessor completes an assessment on a property, he/she is required to lodge the relevant data on SEI's National Administration System (NAS). The NAS undertakes detailed validation checks on each BER assessment received and can query an assessor in relation to any irregular data submitted. This is an essential safeguard in a complex process where the potential for human error can exist. I am informed by SEI that the assessments in question were not lodged on the NAS and do not constitute official BER results. All BER assessment activity is closely monitored by SEI and a robust system of audit and quality assurance checks is in place.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.