Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
276 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the suggestion coming from the UK that in the interests of energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that buildings would have different stamp duty rates to correspond with varying energy ratings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22660/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that new buildings commenced since 1 June 1992 must, by law, comply with mandatory thermal performance and insulation standards under Part L of building regulations made by that Minister. I am also informed that the relevant standards are periodically updated and are now among the highest in the EU. The EU directive on the energy performance of buildings, 2002/91/EC of 16 December 2002, requires that, no later than 1 January 2009, all new buildings, and all existing buildings when offered for sale or letting, must be accompanied by an energy performance certificate. A low energy performance rating is expected to impact on the marketability of the property involved, depending on overall market conditions. This is expected to provide some incentive for landlords and vendors to improve the energy performance of buildings before placing them on the market.
In these circumstances, I do not see the need to introduce a stamp duty incentive which could be quite complex to operate in practice if it were implemented. Stamp duty is a very efficient tax from the point of view of administrative costs, and such complex proposals would run counter to the current administration of the tax.
