asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the proposed new Irish standards of electrical wiring proposed two years ago by the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland; if he accepts that these standards should be incorporated into house building requirements in this country; the proposals if any, to this effect, or other proposals to bring about improvements other than these specific regulations; and if the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland has asked his Department to include such regulations in general building standards.
Written Answers. - Electrical Wiring Standards.
45.
I am so aware and, as I informed the Deputy on 15 February, electrical installations and fitments in all recently built local authority houses are required to meet the requirements of the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland and the Electricity Supply Board. Similar standards are prescribed for private grant-aided new houses and are incorporated in my Department's memorandum and outline specification for such houses.
The Electro-Technical Council of Ireland have been in touch with my Department with a view to incorporating the "National Rules for Electrical Installations, Part I, General Requirements" in the building regulations at present being prepared in my Department. However, I have informed the council that the incorporation of the national rules at this stage would create legal and practical difficulties for planning authorities who will have responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations. The council had already been made aware of the difficulties in discussions they had with officers of my Department. I agreed that I would re-examine the position when the regulations are made and local authorities have set up the necessary organisations, have experience of their operation and have had an opportunity to consider how enforcement could be best achieved.
I also asked the council in the meantime to pursue whatever other means which might be available to them, to ensure that the requirements of the rules are met in all new building. I have also asked my colleague, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, under whose aegis the council operates, to investigate the question of the restriction to qualified electricians of the issue of blank certificates.