Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2013
131. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow an amendment to the Building Control Act 2007 to include an amendment for self-trained, trained or unlicensed architects to benefit from a genuine grandfather clause. [24828/13]
View answerPart 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 sets out the statutory arrangements for the registration of architects. A variety of routes to registration are provided for in the Act, including specific provision (under section 22) for the registration of practically trained persons who may have no academic qualifications or formal education in the discipline of architecture but who had been performing duties commensurate with those of an architect for a period of ten years prior to the commencement of the Act.
I share the concerns of those who feel that fewer applications have been made to date by practically-trained architects than might reasonably be expected, notwithstanding the provision in that regard in the Act. I have recently asked Mr Garret Fennell, Solicitor, who is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Admissions Board relevant to the register of Architects, to carry out an independent review of the experience to date in relation to the operation of the register with a view to identifying any further improvements that can be made at this point. I have particularly asked for his recommendations or views on how the registration of practically trained architects can be further encouraged.
