Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

320. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the new building regulations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9182/16]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The legally enforceable minimum performance requirements which apply to dwellings in general are set out in twelve Parts (classified as Parts A to M) of the Building Regulations and apply to new dwellings or, in certain circumstances, to an existing dwelling which is undergoing an extension, material alteration or material change of use.

Part L of the Building Regulations addresses the conservation of fuel and energy in buildings and sets stringent minimum energy performance standards for dwellings in accordance with the requirements and methodologies set out in Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings. The latest Part L requirements came into effect on and from 1 December 2011.

Detailed Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) are published by my Department to accompany each part of the Building Regulations, including Part L, in order to demonstrate how the requirements of the regulations can be achieved in practice.

Owners, designers and builders are free to make their own choices in relation to the most appropriate heating system for any given dwelling provided the dwelling complies with the minimum energy performance standards as set out in Part L/TGD L 2011. Open fire places may still be specified and installed in dwellings although this form of heating performs relatively poorly in energy efficiency terms (i.e. circa 30% compared to the approximately 8 0% efficiency achieved by a well-performing stove). As such, the open fire place does not provide an optimum contribution to the high energy performance standard required of a modern, low energy dwelling. Where regarded as desirable by homeowners, the open fire tends to be used only as a secondary source of heating and the dwelling concerned must also otherwise achieve the minimum energy performance standards as set out in Part L/TGD L 2011 which apply generally to all dwellings.