Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress that has been made towards the provision by Sustainable Energy Ireland of suitable examinations for building energy rating registration and the establishment of suitable test centres nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10164/09]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied that the training provided by Sustainable Energy Ireland in relation to energy assessors is of a sufficiently high standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4565/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 89 together.

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 — 2008, introduced a requirement for a Building Energy Rating (BER) system. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has been designated as the Issuing Authority with responsibility for the ongoing administration of the BER Scheme.

BER Assessor training is not provided by SEI itself, but by 22 training providers who must be registered with a National Awards Body recognised under the National Framework of Qualifications and listed on SEI's website. All training providers must comply with the Specification for Assessor Training Programmes for Building Energy Rating (BER) of Dwellings, as published by SEI. In particular, this document prescribes strict technical attainments for trainers and minimum entry qualifications for trainees as necessary prerequisites to the training process. All BER assessment activity is closely monitored by SEI and a robust system of audit and quality assurance checks is in place.

I understand from SEI that, following a competitive tender process initiated in October 2008, a preferred tenderer for the introduction of a National BER Examination for all trained assessors has now been selected. Contract arrangements are currently being finalised which will see the National BER Examination being provided at 41 exam centres, including 25 mobile units, around the country from June 2009.