Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are grants available for persons hoping to carry out building energy ratings assessor training programmes; the reason the registration fee for assessors is so high which may be prohibitive for some persons who wish to carry out this type of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5588/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 — 2008, which transposed the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings into Irish Law, require a building of any class which is offered for sale or letting since 1 January 2009 to have a Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate, unless otherwise exempted by the Regulations. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is designated as the issuing authority under the Regulations and is responsible for the general administration of the BER system.

BER Certificates can only be produced by fully trained, qualified and registered BER Assessors. In order to qualify as a BER Assessor, a person must have a qualification equivalent to National Certificate Level 6 in construction studies and undergo a short duration BER training course with an SEI-approved training provider. Persons who successfully complete the training course, which includes an end of course examination, may then register with SEI as a BER Assessor.

I am not aware of any grant schemes along the lines referred to in the Question. However, I am advised by SEI that some of the 20 BER training providers listed on SEI's website may have entered into funding arrangements with FÁS, the State training and employment agency.

The fee for registration with SEI as a BER Assessor is €1,000 for the first year, with an annual renewal fee of €100 thereafter. In the case of companies, the registration fee is reduced to €500 in respect of the registration of a second and subsequent BER Assessor. All registration fees are used solely for the purposes of the development, maintenance and operation of the BER scheme, which is expected to be self-financing, and for this reason the fees are considered necessary and appropriate.