14 February 2007

Environment

 Energy Efficiency

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason his Department made a submission to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council suggesting that the proposal (details supplied) to increase energy efficiency standards was onerous, and could add considerably to the average cost of a new dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche):
In accordance with section 13 (2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and other prescribed bodies are consulted on proposed variations to city or county development plans. The submission from my Department referred to in the Question was in response to a consultation from Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council in relation to a proposed draft variation to their County Development Plan 2004-2010.

In this response, my Department commended the Council for seeking to promote more sustainable development in relation to energy performance of the built environment and reduction of dependence of fossil fuels.

The draft variation communicated to my Department proposed a reduction of at least 60% in respect of CO2 emissions and a target of 30% of space and water heating from renewable energy sources. I am sure the Deputy would agree, that in line with good practice, and indeed with the principles of Regulatory Impact Assessment, that it is important when decisions of this nature are being made that all relevant factors are considered, including potential knock on construction costs which could effect house purchasers. In this regard, I note that the actual variation, as adopted by Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council on 12 February 2007, has adopted reduction of targets 40% and 20% respectively.