9 February 2005

Environment

EU Energy Performance Of Buildings Directive

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in regard to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (details supplied), he has satisfied himself that sufficiently qualified auditors will be available here, or elsewhere in the Union to ensure that new buildings will carry an energy rating label from 2006; and if he intends to defer this aspect of the Directive's introduction until 2009.

Minister for Environment, Heritage & Local Government: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC) was adopted on 16 December 2002. EU Member States must legally transpose the Directive by 4 January 2006. I plan to include the principal transposition provisions in the proposed Building Control Bill 2005, which is due to be published in mid 2005.

However the Directive provides a for a longer period, up to 4 January 2009, forthe practical implementation of more complex provisions regarding-

• mandatory energy performance rating or "labelling "of newly constructed buildings and of existing buildings, when existing buildings are sold or let;
  
• improvement of the energy efficiency of boilers; and
  
• mandatory inspection of air conditioning systems.

Accordingly, the EU Directive does not require that buildings now under construction or commencing construction in 2005 must comply with the energy performance rating requirements.

An Inter-Departmental Working Group have drawn up a draft Action Plan for implementation of this EU Directive, according to a proposed timetable- which provides for development of an appropriate rating methodology and the training of auditors for building energy performance rating purposes. The Working Group comprises senior officials from my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and Sustainable Energy Ireland.

Sustainable Energy Ireland submitted a draft of the Action Plan, on behalf of the Inter Departmental Working Group, for my approval on 7 December 2004. However, Sustainable Energy Ireland advised me on 21 January 2005 that a revised draft of the Plan incorporating a revised timetable would be forwarded to me and I expect to receive the revised draft shortly.

It would be premature for me to comment on the proposed time scale for implementation of the various elements of this EU Directive until I have had a reasonable opportunity to study the revised draft Action Plan.

It is intended that SEI will publish the draft Action Plan when approved by me-for public/industry comment and, at that stage, I will have a copy of the draft placed in the Oireachtas Library.