Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Building Regulations

10:00 am

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Building Energy Rating Certificate; the cost of this to the homeowner in view of the fact that it is needed on all homes for sale or rent; the reason this cost is necessary for persons who are not selling their property and are not in a position to have any works carried out to their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29405/10]

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Building Energy Rating Certificate issued by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, following an assessment by a qualified BER assessor; the person who must be registered with SEI; the persons who are the qualified BER assessors; the steps a person interested in becoming a qualified BER assessor needs to take in order to qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29406/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 493 together.

The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 – 2008, which transposed Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings into Irish law, require a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate to be obtained prior to a building being offered for sale or letting out or prior to a newly commissioned building being occupied for the first time. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), as the designated issuing authority under the regulations, is responsible for the day to day administration of the BER scheme. The assessment of buildings must be carried out by independent BER assessors who are registered with SEAI.

The primary purpose of the BER certificate and advisory report is to enable prospective purchasers or tenants to take a building's energy performance into account when deciding on whether to avail of a building offered for sale or rent. In line with other Member States, no official fee for BER certificates has been set in order to encourage a cost competitive market for BER assessment services.

Any person seeking to become a BER Assessor for Dwellings is first required to have an appropriate construction related qualification of at least Level 6 (Advanced Certificate/Higher Certificate) or equivalent. This enables the candidate to undergo a training course on the BER certification of dwellings with one of the approved training providers listed on the SEAI's website. Training participants must achieve a score of 70% of the available marks at the end of course examination in order to be certified as a fully trained and qualified assessor.

A certified assessor may apply to register with SEAI as a BER Assessor for Dwellings, subject to payment of the appropriate registration fee. BER Assessors are required to renew their registration annually; this process involves a further competency test in order to ensure that their BER assessment skills are maintained to a high standard.

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