Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
490. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to transpose the energy performance of buildings directive into national law; the measures he is taking to comply with the measures related to BER ratings; the measures he is taking to ensure compliance in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33686/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) (EPBD) is the European Union’s main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the European Union. A recast EPBD was adopted by the European Parliament and Council and came into force in May 2024. The main focus of this Directive is the renovation of the entire building stock, the energy performance of existing buildings and additional performance requirements for new buildings. The Directive requires transposition of the relevant Articles by 29th May 2026. Primary legislation is required for certain articles and my officials are currently drafting a General Scheme which I will bring to Government in the coming weeks.
Significant work is now been undertaken across Government and by the SEAI to determine the impacts of the requirements of the Directive, including those related to minimum energy performance requirements, BER Ratings and the progressive renovation of the residential building stock.
My colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment has policy responsibility for renovation of the residential building stock (Article 9(2) of the Directive).
Work in respect of implementing minimum BER standards in the private rental sector has been underpinned in the first instance by detailed research undertaken under the joint research programme my Department operates with the ESRI.
The ESRI published a research paper in February 2025, which explores the investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector. The paper found that there are significant investment needs in the sector to bring properties to a BER rating of B. The paper also identified a number of barriers to investment by household residential landlords.
The findings from this published ESRI report will feed into further research and wider consideration at Government level of the current and future supports required to upgrade energy efficiency in the residential private rental sector.
The appropriate balance will need to be struck between improving the energy efficiency of the rental stock and the potential impact any intervention may have on the private rental market, particularly around the availability of accommodation.
