Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
224. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the functions of the National Building Control Office; the number of staff assigned to same; the division of responsibilities for staff; and if any other relevant information will be provided. [2715/21]
View answerThe National Building Control Management Project (NBCMP) is managed by the National Building Control Office (NBCO) within Dublin City Council (DCC) to provide oversight, support and direction for the development, standardisation and implementation of Building Control as an effective shared service in the 31 Building Control Authorities, through the five pillars of:
1. Training: This includes the coordination, development and management of a training programme to support building control staff in the discharge of their duties.
2. Inspections: This includes the development and implementation of a robust and consistent inspection regime in the 31 Building Control Authorities to facilitate meaningful risk-based targeted inspections of building works.
3. Compliance Support: This includes the provision of oversight and support across the full suite of Building Control Legislation to ensure transparent, professional enforcement of the relevant legislation in accordance with proper public administration.
4. Information System - Building Control Management System (IS-BCMS): This includes the development and management of the information technology-based system hosted by the Local Government Management Agency which facilitates the electronic administration of building control matters by building control authorities as the preferred means of building control administration.
5. Market Surveillance: The Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Construction Products – Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 682 of 2020) appoints DCC as a competent authority for the carrying out of market surveillance functions for construction products on a national basis, i.e. across all 31 administrative local authority areas.
The National Building Control Management Project (NBCMP) is delivered through a three-tier management structure which includes:
- The National Building Control Advisory Board, which advises on the strategic direction and guidance of the NBCMP.
- The National Building Control Office (NBCO), which implements the NBCMP and manages the working groups under each of the five pillars.
- Three Regional Building Control Committees (Eastern & Midlands, Northern & Western, and Southern), which provide a network for building control officers to exchange views and share good practice, leading to a uniform high level of enforcement in the discharge of the building control function. The Committees also contribute to and participate in the working groups established under the five pillars.
The NBCO is a key element of my Department’s ongoing building control reform agenda, with its many initiatives that already provide a comprehensive roadmap for embedding a culture of real compliance within the construction industry. The reform agenda also includes amendments made to the Building Control Regulations and the ongoing development of new legislation through the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill.
Finally, in regard to the number of staff assigned and the division of responsibilities, under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
The NBCO may be contacted by phone at 01 222 7947/7948 or by email to support@nbco.gov.ie.
