Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the failure of successive Governments to place the construction industry register on a statutory footing; his further views on whether this failure affects the strength of the 2014 building control reforms; and if a commitment will be given to introducing the Bill at second stage in 2021. [5434/21]
View answerThis Government is committed to placing the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or CIRI, on a statutory footing.
The General Scheme of a Bill to place the CIRI register on a statutory footing was approved by the then Government on 30 May 2017 which was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Committee’s report has since been received and my Department is currently working through the Committee’s recommendations. The General Scheme, which was published in 2017, is available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3e711-building-control/
The main objective of the proposed legislation is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with Building Regulations within the builder community of the construction sector The establishment of a robust, mandatory, statutory register of builders and specialist contractors is an essential consumer protection measure giving those who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. In addition, it will complement the reforms made through the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and contribute to the development of an enhanced culture of competence and compliance in the construction sector.
In response to the building failures that have emerged over the past decade, a three pronged Building Control Reform Agenda focusing primarily on ensuring strong and effective regulation in the building control system and the construction industry and on improving compliance in the Building Regulations. The three elements include;
1. Reform of the Building Control process
2. Building Control Management Project and establishment of a National Building Control Office
3. Putting the Construction Industry Register Ireland on a statutory footing.
The reform of the Building Control Process and establishment of the National Building Control Office have resulted in clarity on who has held the designated roles and who is responsible for addressing the issues. This facilitates and simplifies the inspection, implementation and enforcement role of Building Control Authority. The establishment of CIRI on a statutory basis will further strengthen this reform – the timeline required for implementation has not affected this progress to date.
When established on a statutory basis it is proposed that the operation of CIRI will be vested in the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) in the same way that statutory registration of Architects was vested in the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), pursuant to the Building Control Act 2007 My Department is working with the Attorney General's Office with a view to achieving publication of the Bill in Q1 of this year, and I am committed to introducing this Bill at second stage this year.
