Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2013
165. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when regulations were last updated regarding ventilation in domestic buildings; and if he will bring forward new guidelines regarding same. [10754/13]
View answerThe legal requirement in relation to ventilation in domestic buildings is set out in Part F of the Building Regulations 1997-2012, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document F (TGD F) outlines how the requirement can be achieved in practice. Building Regulations typically apply to new building and, in specific circumstances, to existing buildings undergoing an extension or a significant alteration or change of use. A full review of Part F, and the accompanying TGD F, was most recently completed in 2009.
Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. These Regulations were further amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, which specify a number of requirements in relation to a range of matters including sanitary facilities, refuse facilities, heating, lighting and ventilation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Regulations.
Both the Building Regulations and the Housing Regulations are kept under review in my Department and there are no proposals for changes in relation to ventilation requirements under consideration by the Department at present.
