Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
553. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the properties requiring remedial works to bring them into compliance with fire safety standards following fire safety inspections by Dublin Fire Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17213/19]
View answerIn response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, I tasked my Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management with co-ordinating a high-level task force to lead a reappraisal of fire safety in Ireland. The task force was requested to oversee and report on a number of initial steps, and to urgently consider any potential life safety issues and appropriate responses.
In addition to establishing the fire safety task force, I requested that a number of immediate initial actions be taken, including directing fire authorities to carry out a survey to identify buildings in their individual functional areas of more than six storeys, or more than 18m in height, fitted with external cladding or rain screen systems, with or without insulation. To support the work being undertaken by fire authorities, my Department issued guidance developed under the aegis of the task force in 2017, dealing with assessment of cladding systems, and providing information on interim fire safety measures to be applied to buildings, pending completion of remedial works. Fire authorities were advised that site visits would be required to confirm information, including whether cladding to the buildings is present.
Where buildings of more than six storeys, or more than 18m in height, with cladding or cladding systems present, were identified, fire authorities were advised to consider whether use of section 18(6)(a) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 – to require the person having control over the premises to carry out a fire safety assessment of the premises, including issues like fire detection and alarm systems as well as the cladding system and concealed spaces (cavities) in the external wall construction – was warranted. This work in relation to medium-to-high rise buildings has been carried out, and all fire authorities have reported back to my Department, as requested, and the summary of this work is included in the fire safety task force's report published by my Department in May 2018 which is available at the following link:
Properties requiring remedial work
A number of medium-to-high rise buildings were identified as having external cladding, and, where deemed warranted by fire authorities, building owners have been required, using powers under the Fire Services Acts, to undertake fire safety assessments in these specific buildings, in some case of fire safety aspects other than cladding. My Department received summary information in this regard from the fire authorities; accordingly, details of individual buildings which were identified and appraised are not available in my Department.
The most recent figures provided to my Department from Dublin Fire Brigade indicate that fire safety assessments were required in respect of 63 buildings (21 residential, and 42 non-residential); 57 assessments have been received, 5 assessments are in preparation, and 1 building remains vacant.
So far, further action, including remedial works, has been required in respect of 7 buildings, including 4 cases involving remedial works to cladding installations.
Remedial works to cladding installations, where required, are subject to the requirements of Building Regulations, and generally require a fire safety certificate, and compliance with the requirements of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, including the submission of a commencement notice to the building control authority with accompanying documentation, design certifier, and assigned certifier on completion.
