Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2016
31. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the compliance costs and the administrative criteria required for private security contractors to provide intruder alarm installation services; the National Standards Authority of Ireland and other standard certifications they require; the associated costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12426/16]
View answerThe Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and I have no involvement in its day to day operations.
Contractors installing intruder alarm systems require a licence from the Private Security Authority. In terms of compliance costs, I am informed by the Authority that the fee for such a licence is made up of two elements, the first of which is an administration fee of €1,000 and the second which is a turnover fee based on the annual turnover of a contractor. For example, the turnover fee for a contractor with a turnover of €300,000 or less is €250, bringing the overall fee payable in that instance to €1,250. The licence issued to the contractor by the Authority is valid for a two year period.
While the provision of a regulatory environment understandably has cost implications for the industry, the Deputy will appreciate that both the public and the industry itself benefit from regulation. Having regard to this, the Authority has made every effort to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum and in fact it reduced the fees payable by contractors in 2013. The Authority has also introduced an instalment payment option to assist contractors with paying for their licence.
With regard to the administrative criteria aspect of the Deputy's question, I am informed that contractors applying for a licence in the intruder alarm installer sector are required to provide the following standard documentation in support of their application:
- Completed Application Form,
- Valid Tax Clearance Certificate,
- Completed Garda Vetting Form,
- Evidence of attainment of the required technical and security management sector standard.
Finally, with regard to the issue of standard certifications, I can inform the Deputy that all contractor licences issued by the Authority are underpinned by standards. The specific standard required for an installer of intruder alarms licence is EN 50131. Certification for EN 50131 may be obtained from an accredited certification body, all of which are listed on the PSA website at www.psa.gov.ie. All accredited certification bodies, including the National Standards Authority of Ireland, are commercial entities and it is therefore up to the contractors themselves to choose the body that best meets their requirements. The issue of certification fees is a matter for these bodies and not for my Department or the Authority.
