Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - Construction Industry Standards.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

201 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will issue a directive to local authorities and building organisations that prosecutions will be instigated where minimum standards are not met. [25715/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Building regulations prescribe minimum construction standards for new buildings and extensions and material alterations to existing buildings and certain changes of use of existing buildings. Part D of the regulations requires that work on such buildings be carried out with proper materials and in a workmanlike manner.

Compliance with the regulations is primarily a matter for the designers, builders and owners of the buildings involved. Enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of local building control authorities. I have consistently urged the relevant authorities to be active in enforcing building regulations and I have taken a number of measures to improve enforcement at local level including, approving the creation of additional posts where necessary, allowing building control officers and support staff to be appointed, increasing building control fees with effect from 1 July 1998, and providing local funding for stricter enforcement.

These measures are yielding results. All but three of the authorities have now appointed building control officers and the remaining authorities are taking steps to do so. About 90% of authorities are now carrying out inspections and three-quarters have reached the target level of inspection – 12% to 15% of developments – recommended in 1993 guidelines adopted by the City and County Managers' Association. The minority of local authorities still behind target levels have pledged their commitment to early achievement of the target level.

I recently addressed the annual conference of the Irish Building Control Institute, IBCI, where I assured all building control personnel attending the conference of my full support for vigorous and sustained enforcement of the building regulations.