Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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233. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to set down the number of building energy rating certificates issued for new housing in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [22379/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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A Building Energy Rating (BER) is an indication of the energy performance of a dwelling (represented in terms of the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) used per square metre per year). The actual energy performance of dwelling will vary depending on occupancy and how the dwelling is used.

A BER is based on the characteristics of major components of the dwelling including: wall, roof and floor dimensions; window and door sizes and orientations, as well as the construction type and insulation, ventilation and air tightness features; the system for heat supply (including renewable energy), its distribution and control; and the type of lighting. The BER certificate indicates the annual primary energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions associated with the provision of space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting, and associated pumps and fans.  A BER only covers electricity used for heating, lighting and ventilation with associated pumps and fans. Electricity used for cooking, refrigeration, laundry and other appliance use is not included.

The Building Energy Rating (BER) scheme was established under the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is designated as the issuing authority with responsibility for registering BER assessors, logging BER assessments and managing the BER scheme. Since 1 January 2009, a BER certificate and advisory report is compulsory for all homes being sold or offered for rent. A BER is also required for new dwellings that apply for planning permission on or after 1 January 2007.

The Central Statistics Office publishes a quarterly, independently verified, report on the number of BERs issued in the previous quarter. 96% of dwellings built since 2010 are "A" or "B" rated on the BER scale.

A BER certificate is also required to avail of the grants for energy-efficiency improvements to the home, which are provided under the Better Energy Programme which is operated by SEAI on behalf of my Department. These grants are available for householders built before 2006, on the basis that homes built from 2006 onwards should have been constructed to the 2003 Building Regulations and so should not require significant insulation or heating system upgrades.

The number of BERs published for new build was provided by SEAI who make information on all published BERs available to researchers through a National BER Research Tool, accessible through SEAI's website: .