Value of 250,000 homes ‘to drop over delay on EU rules’

UP to 250,000 new homes may not be energy efficient because the Government has delayed enforcing EU regulations to protect the concrete industry, it was claimed yesterday.

These houses will lose market value when tough new EU standards are introduced soon, the Dáil’s Environment Committee heard. Gerry McCaughey, chief executive of the country’s leading timber-frame home manufacturer, Century Homes, also told the committee that the Government, by delaying the introduction of EU energy-efficient standards and directives for homes, would leave the taxpayer footing a potential fine of €5 billion if Ireland fails to meet carbon emission targets.

He claimed the Government had delayed implementing new energy-efficient standards in the construction sector for five years because they would have a negative impact on the nine-inch hollow block and cavity wall sectors.