Vol. 444 No. 2
18 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the action, if any, he has taken to date to implement the energy certification of building requirements under Directive 93/76/EEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The aim of Directive 93/76/EEC is to limit carbon dioxide emissions by improving energy efficiency and requires member states by 31 December 1994 to introduce programmes or measures including, inter alia, the promotion of energy certification of buildings. In anticipation of this requirement our Department has been involved in a pilot project to develop this concept in Ireland and to provide the necessary information on which to base a voluntary scheme in the existing house market. This project has enabled the development of an appropriate rating mechanism for Irish conditions and will provide information on the best approaches to promoting a voluntary scheme in this country and these will be developed over the coming months.
Operating a house certification procedure under the building regulations in tandem with a voluntary scheme for existing houses might be beneficial and while this is primarily a matter for my colleague, Deputy Smith, Minister for the Environment, officials from both Departments are actively pursuing this aspect.
