Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015
1384. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the review of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 Statutory Instrument No. 9 of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30452/15]
View answer1432. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of building regulations; the wider consultation his Department undertook with stakeholders in the industry regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31207/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1384 and 1432 together.
The review of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 following its first 12 months in operation was announced on 2 April 2015. 171 submissions were received from private individuals, industry stakeholders and local authorities during the public consultation process . All submissions received were reviewed by my Department and a Report on the Consultation Process was published on my Department's website on 31 July 2015 and can be accessed by clicking on the following weblink:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,42398,en.pdf.
Following the review, Minister Kelly and I announced that owners of single dwellings and domestic extensions would be afforded an alternative to the statutory certification requirements introduced under S.I. No. 9 of 2014. The Building Control (Amendment ) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 have since been made to give effect to this alternative arrangement on and from 1 September 2015. An information note for homeowners wishing to avail of the alternative arrangements has been published on my Department’s website and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,42563,en.pdf.
The impact of statutory certification on new single dwellings and domestic extensions has been a cause of some concern and I am satisfied that the revised approach will rebalance the situation in this regard.
