Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014
325. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider the establishment of a State regulatory and accreditation body for plumbing services under the review of building regulations being currently undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29965/14]
View answerThere are no proposals for the establishment of a State regulatory and accreditation body for plumbing services along the lines suggested under consideration by my Department.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), which comes under the remit of the nister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is the lead agency in relation to the formulation of quality, design and safety standards for heating and plumbing installations and it normally advances such work through the establishment of expert industry working groups.
It is also understood that the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) established by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as a register of builders and contractors provides for participation in the register by heating and plumbing contractors.
While the CIRI register is a voluntary register at present, the Government has signalled its commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing in 2015. I intend to bring legislative proposals to Government in that regard by the end of 2014. I have asked CIRI and my Department to liaise with NSAI in relation to the development of the heating and plumbing element of the register.
