Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2015
592. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is required for competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who undertake to carry out construction works to be registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland, in order to comply with the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43032/15]
View answer593. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grant assistance available to small firms of competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who are registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland to defray the cost of undertaking annual continuous professional development which is a requirement for registration with the Construction Industry Register Ireland. [43033/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 593 together.
The Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2015 require the owner of a proposed building to sign a statutory form assigning a competent builder to undertake the works. The regulations do not require that the builder so assigned be registered with Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI). CIRI is a voluntary register of builders, contractors and specialist trade persons established by the Construction Industry Federation and I understand that approximately 800 construction entities are currently included on the register which is available online at www.ciri.ie.
Under the Construction 2020 strategy, the Government has signalled its commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing. This is seen as an essential consumer protection measure giving consumers who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. Legislative proposals in this regard are currently being prepared by my Department with a view to their being presented to Government for consideration in the near future.
I have no role or function in relation to the grant assistance of construction firms in relation to ensuring that they or their employees are properly trained. I would encourage those small firms of competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who are registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland to raise any concerns they have in relation to the cost of undertaking annual continuous professional development (CPD) with CIRI who will be in a position to advise on an appropriate approach which is suitable to the needs of their firm.
