Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 December 2013
105. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the evacuation of apartments in Navan due to fire safety issues, and in view of the fact that there have been other similar incidents in recent months, the measures being taken to ensure that other apartment blocks are inspected with regard to fire safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51992/13]
View answerLocal authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Safety Act 1981, the Building Control Act 1990 and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be relevant in relation to fire safety arrangements in apartment buildings. Authorities have used such powers on a number of occasions, including in relation to instances of non-compliance which arose in relation to the development at Kentswood Court in Navan, Co. Meath. Neither I nor my Department have any function in assessing, checking or testing compliance, or otherwise, of specific works or developments, nor can I or my Department influence or interfere in the handling of specific cases by local authorities who are independent in the use of their statutory powers. Nevertheless I have urged, and will continue to urge, local authorities in general to continue to use all of the powers currently available to them to address failures to comply with statutory requirements, particularly in relation to fire safety in residential developments, within their functional areas.
Earlier this year I signed the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 into law. Building projects, on and from 1 march 2014 when the revised regulations come into effect, will require design documents to be lodged with the local building control authority, inspections during construction to be overseen by a registered construction professional (known as the Assigned Certifier) and statutory certificates of compliance with the building regulations to be signed by the designer, the builder and the assigned certifier. These new regulations will greatly strengthen the building control system and lead to an improved standard of construction generally thereby ensuring that consumers can enjoy the quality of buildings they expect and deserve.
