Electrical Contractors

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2016

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Questions (546)

Clare Daly

Question:

546. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will request the Commission for Energy Regulation to engage with the Registered Electrical Contractors of Ireland on the necessity of making public and professional installers aware of the need for induction hobs and ovens, which have a higher electrical load, to have separate circuits, or other modifications to wiring, to cope with the potentially massive electrical load at full-power; and if it will commit to reviewing and improving the standards for installation to a much higher degree for safety reasons. [15579/16]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including safety, is a statutory function of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent Regulator.

The CER was assigned responsibility for regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent amending legislation, specifically the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2006. Section 4 of the 2006 Act provided CER with responsibility for the regulation of the activities of electrical contractors with regard to safety, and amended the 1999 Act accordingly. Section 4 provides that: "It shall be a function of the Commission to regulate the activities of electrical contractors with regard to safety". All associated activities, including the publication of criteria relating to electrical safety supervision, and the safety standards to be achieved and maintained by electrical contractors, are solely a matter for the Commission.

I have asked the Commission to communicate directly with the Deputy.