Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
724. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the Building Control Act 2007 regulations, in particular the rules regarding energy standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34546/15]
View answerDirective 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings requires EU Member States, among other things, to ensure that statutory nearly zero energy building performance standards are in place for new and existing buildings by 2020. The statutory minimum energy performance standards for buildings are addressed under Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Documents. These regulatory requirements have been reviewed and upgraded intensively over the past ten years and this process is ongoing. A framework for Ireland’s approach to achieving nearly zero energy buildings was published by my Department in November 2012 and can be accessed at the following weblink –
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,42487,en.pdf.
Further amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations will be necessary as outlined in the Framework in order to meet Ireland’s commitments under Directive 2010/31/EU.
