Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Kyoto Protocol.

John Bruton

Ceist:

663 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the necessary changes to the building regulations which will be introduced under the strategy for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce energy requirements, giving full details in each case. [21005/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

To meet Ireland's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to stabilise greenhouse gas, a substantial improvement in energy conservation in buildings is essential. About 40% of CO2 emissions are attributable to energy used in the heating, cooling, and lighting of buildings, therefore energy conservation in buildings must be an integral part of lowering such emissions.

I have recently published – 27 September 2001 – consultation documents on the proposed amendment of the Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Energy of the national building regulations. The proposed revision will radically upgrade thermal performance and insulation standards for new dwellings, commencing on or after 1 July 2002. The new thermal performance and insulation standards for new dwellings are as follows:

Building Element	Thermal PerformanceU value	Insulation Levelmillimetres-mm
	2002(1997)	2002(1997)
Roof	0.16(0.25)	250-300(150-200)
Wall	0.27(0.45)	100-150(60-70)
Floor	0.25(0.45)	100(50)

It is estimated that the new standards will reduce energy requirements for space and water heating by 23% to 33%, depending on the type and size of dwellings. On current patterns of fuel use, this will give a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 300,000 tonnes per annum for 2012. This is broadly in line with projections for improved building regulations in the national climate change strategy – November, 2000.

I intend to introduce the new regulations in a single step, rather than on a phased basis in 2002 and 2005, as originally proposed. I have consulted the building regulations advisory body – BRAB – who have advised me that all building systems commonly used in Ireland can be adapted to comply with the stricter standard. I plan to announce my proposals for enhanced energy conservation for non-residential buildings, under Part L of the building code, by the end of 2002.

I will also be amending technical guidance document F – ventilation – on the building code to require mechanical ventilation – extractor fans – in the wet areas of new houses, namely bathrooms and kitchens.

I have been advised that this is necessary to minimise the risk of condensation in new houses, which are likely to be more airtight due to the provision of better insulation. The installation of mechanical ventilation will only represent around 0.5% of the average cost of new dwellings and will not therefore add significantly to housing costs.

I have arranged for copies of the consultation documents to be forwarded to the Deputy and to be placed in the Oireachtas Library.

However, additional considerations such as the greatly increased market penetration of mobile phones and growing concerns about the possible adverse effects on road safety when they are used inappropriately, have also arisen since the strategy was adopted. I am therefore now considering the regulation of their use by drivers and have asked the high level group on road safety for a view on what could constitute appropriate measures.

John Bruton

Ceist:

664 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the sectoral measures to be implemented in each sector to reduce emissions of CO2 by over 15 million tons during the period 2008 to 2012; the current level of emissions from these sectors in 2001; the likely emission levels in 2008, in 2009, in 2010, in 2011 and in 2012; and the measures to be adopted in each sector to ensure the achievement of these figures. [21006/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

The sectoral and cross-sectoral measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach the national target under the Kyoto Protocol are set out in the national climate change strategy, which I published in November 2000. The strategy is available in the Oireachtas Library.

The strategy contains a sectoral breakdown of emissions for 1990, 1998 and projections for 2010, with and without the measures set out in the strategy. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for preparation of national inventories of greenhouse gases and has submitted a detailed breakdown of emissions for 1999, the latest year available, to the Secretariat to the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change in the standardised common reporting format.

The sectoral emissions data for 1999 derived from this report are being prepared and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Projections of emissions on an annual basis for 2008 to 2012 are not available. In the strategy – page 85 – projections for 2010 are taken as the mid-point of the 2008 to 2012 commitment period and are regarded as the average for the period. However, additional considerations such as the greatly increased market penetration of mobile phones and growing concerns about the possible adverse effects on road safety when they are used inappropriately, have also arisen since the strategy was adopted. I am therefore now considering the regulation of their use by drivers and have asked the high level group on road safety for a view on what could constitute appropriate measures.