Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004

Thursday, 9 December 2004

Questions (239)

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

235 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the national climate change strategy for Ireland 2000 states on page 50 that, in the commercial sector, a mandatory energy rating system will be developed to promote greater awareness of the cost of energy as a portion of the overall costs of building rental and adjustments to the tax treatment of leases will be made if it becomes clear by 2003 that the energy rating system is not providing the necessary incentive on its own to reduce energy use in the sector; the progress that has been made towards meeting this specific target and the goals outlined elsewhere in the strategy. [32851/04]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The energy rating initiatives foreseen in chapter 6 of the national climate change strategy were overtaken by the adoption by the EU of the energy performance of buildings directive — 2002/91/EC of 16 December 2002. The directive, which must be transposed by January 2006, mandates energy performance certification of all new buildings and virtually all categories of existing buildings when they are being sold or let.

A working group comprising senior officials of my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Sustainable Energy Ireland has developed a draft action plan for the purpose of implementing the directive. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 48 and 74 on today's Order Paper in that regard.

The national climate change strategy is under ongoing review. Preliminary greenhouse gas emissions figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency in July 2004 indicate that emissions in 2003 were 24.7% above 1990 levels, down from approximately 29% in 2002 and 31% in 2001.

Question No. 236 answered with QuestionNo. 234.