While costs are examined in the context of the delivery of social housing and in proposing amendments to the regulatory environment, my Department has no role in relation to the audit of construction costs in the commercial sector.
In relation to residential development, in the context of social housing provision, my Department undertakes analysis in respect of the average costs associated with the delivery of a range of differently sized social housing units, both in terms of construction costs and 'all-in' costs. These costs are based on an analysis of returned data from local authorities on social housing schemes. Nevertheless, information on the average cost of current social housing developments of various sizes is preliminary at this stage and will be better informed when a greater number of projects have completed the tendering stage over the months ahead. My Department has also input into work led by the Department of Finance in relation to construction costs which was undertaken under the Construction 2020 Strategy.
In general terms, the cost of delivering housing is largely dependent on the type, size and geographic location of the development concerned, the availability of services, access to infrastructure and on the contractual arrangements leading to its construction. Against this background, construction costs can vary greatly across the country which gives rise to difficulties in developing more accurate costings for the various house types in the absence of site-specific and evidence based information.
In terms of the regulatory environment, since 2012, amendments have been made to Parts A (Structure), D (Materials and Workmanship), J (Heat Producing Appliances), K (Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards) and E (Sound) of the Building Regulations 1997. Each of these amendments was accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment which examined, among other things, the incremental impact on the costs on construction that would arise from the new regulatory requirements proposed therein.
Part A (Structure) of the Building Regulations was amended in 2012 to facilitate the implementation and use of Eurocodes for construction works and structural construction products. The Regulatory Impact Assessment is available at www.environ.ie/regulatory-impact-assessment-structural-safety-buildings-proposed-amendment-tgd-part-structure. Part D (Materials and Workmanship) of the Building Regulations was amended in 2013 to take account of the implementation of Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products. The accompanying Regulatory Impact Assessment is available at http://www.environ.ie/regulatory-impact-assessment-construction-products-2013.
Part J (Heat Producing Appliances) of the Building Regulations was amended in 2014 to provide for, among other things, the detection and warning of carbon monoxide in dwellings. The associated Regulatory Impact Assessment is available at http://www.environ.ie/regulatory-impact-analysis-draft-regulations-tgd-part-j. Part K (Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards) of the Building Regulations was amended in 2014 to provide, among other things, additional guidance on prevention of falls from windows in new dwellings.
Part E (Sound) of the Building Regulations was also amended in 2014 to improve the sound performance of new attached dwellings. The associated Regulatory Impact Assessment is available to view or download at http://www.environ.ie/draft-regulatory-impact-assessment-tgd-part-e-sound.
Separate to revisions to the Building Regulations, my Department has also made a number of revisions to the Building Control Regulations 1997.
The development of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which strengthened requirements in relation to accountability for compliance with Building Regulations, was informed by the Strengthening the Building Control System - A Document to inform public consultation on Draft Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012. The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, were reviewed following their first 12 months in operation to consider, among other things, the impact of the regulations on single dwellings and extensions to existing dwellings. A suite of consultation documents, which include specific information on costs, are available at http://www.environ.ie/housing/building-standards/building-regulations/public-consultation-review-building-control.
In accordance with the Programme for a Partnership Government, my Department is preparing an Action Plan for Housing with a view to identifying any reasonable and appropriate measures that may be taken in the interests of reducing construction overheads in order to facilitate an increased level of housing output into the future and a broader review of the costs of construction may be considered in this regard.
