Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2015
213. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider reviewing the current building control regulations, abolishing the self-certification of buildings, providing local authorities with more power to certify buildings, and to enforce planning obligations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35086/15]
View answerThe Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 now require greater accountability for compliance with the Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates. I am satisfied that these measures are appropriate and will ensure a greater emphasis on competence, professionalism and quality in our construction industry thereby ensuring that homeowners and construction clients can rely on getting the high quality homes and buildings they expect and deserve. The arrangements now in place for statutory certification since 1 March 2014 should not be confused with previous practices of self-certification which were not part of the regulatory system. The wording of the statutory certificates is prescribed and cannot be varied or qualified by the registered construction professional who signs the certificate. A registered construction professional who signs a certificate without exercising reasonable skill, care and diligence is acting in breach of their professional code of practice and may, if later found to be guilty of professional misconduct or poor professional practice, be putting their own livelihood at risk.
Local authorities as building control authorities already have strong powers of inspection and enforcement under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014. Arrangements for more comprehensive Local Authority inspections on developments are now in place and it is intended that these will be enhanced further over time as construction output recovers.
