Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm that the objectives of C1 BER rating was achieved as a result of the energy efficiency measures carried out at a cost of almost €11 million to the Exchequer in 2009; his plans to introduce the C1 BER rating as the standard for private rented dwellings in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37437/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Under a programme established in 2009 to improve the energy efficiency of local authority social housing units, my Department approved energy efficiency improvement works to some 1,155 vacant units across the country with a view to achieving a high standard of Building Energy Rating [BER] of at least C1, where practicable. Although the scheme only commenced in Autumn 2009, by year end my Department had recouped almost €11 million to authorities across the country for some 900 improved units, with the balance being delivered in 2010. Of these improved units, 48% achieved a BER standard of C1 or better and 12% achieved a C2 or C3 standard. Where units achieved a lesser standard, my Department contributed only 50% of the cost of the works, up to a maximum grant of €15,000. This retrofit programme has been significantly expanded in 2010 with a total funding provision of €40 million and additional technical guidance has been developed to support authorities in providing cost optimal energy efficiency measures for their social housing stock.

Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed by regulations made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. These standards were significantly updated in December 2008 via the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008. Further measures to update, and more effectively enforce, the regulations required amendment of primary legislation and were addressed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. These elements included increased penalties for non-compliance and the introduction of a more robust sanctions regime.

Where a property is offered for letting, the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 – 2008 require a landlord to produce a copy of the Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate and advisory report in relation to that property to any person who expresses any interest in availing of the letting. The BER certificate and advisory report serve to enable prospective tenants to take the energy performance of a building into account when making decisions in relation to lettings and to compare in a standard format the energy performance of a range of buildings available to them. In this way it is intended that the BER system will promote greater awareness of energy efficiency in the property market and encourage building owners to take cost effective steps to improve the energy rating, and hence the overall energy performance, of such buildings. Failure to obtain a BER certificate when required by the Regulations is an offence, which may lead to a prosecution and a fine of up to €5,000.

I have no plans to specify a minimum BER rating as standard for private rented dwellings at this time. However, the matter is kept under review by my Department in the context of both strengthening the quality of the private rented sector and growing awareness of the energy performance of buildings.