Vol. 572 No. 5
59 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he is considering the introduction of new environment levies, similar to the plastic bag levy; the products being considered for such a levy; when it is expected that they will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/03]
I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 492 on 14 October 2003.
Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 28.
61 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will initiate a policy of requiring solar energy to be harnessed in new and existing built environments as is happening in other countries with a similar climate to Ireland, bearing in mind Kyoto commitments. [23635/03]
I do not propose to make solar energy systems mandatory in new or existing buildings. Part L of the national building regulations on the conservation of fuel and energy relating to housing was upgraded for new houses commencing on or after I January 2003. I will publish Part L proposals for non-domestic Buildings, for public comment early in 2004. My Department's technical guidance document on Part L sets out three options for showing compliance for housing. One option – the heat energy rating method – makes specific provision for passive solar gain. Solar gain through windows and other glazing can be taken into account and contribute to meeting the overall requirement in terms of annual energy use.
EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings, dated 16 December 2002, requires that, for new buildings with a floor area greater than 1,000 m2, explicit account must be taken at the design stage of the potential for use of renewable energy. The proposed building control Bill will transpose this EU requirement by the due date of 4 January 2006.
Under this directive a more comprehensive rating system for buildings, new and old, will be required. This methodology, which will be aligned with that in fellow EU member states, must also give credit for active solar systems such as active solar thermal, photovoltaic and geothermal energy based systems.
While my Department is responsible for elements in the context of the building regulations, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has overall responsibility for energy matters, including solar energy policy. I understand Sustainable Energy Ireland, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department, has a number of programmes to stimulate the wider voluntary exploitation of, amongst other things, renewable energy in buildings. I also understand SEI is funding a research project in the area of solar energy systems to help inform what policy, institutional and technical measures might be deployed in support of solar energy.
