Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
684. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the process of statutory recognition for competent architectural technology professionals to provide assigned and design certifier functions in line with other statutory registers defined in the Building Control Act 2007 and the progress of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18406/21]
View answerIn general, the regulation of professions is in the first instance a matter for industry representatives working in consultation with relevant industry stakeholders. My Department is engaging with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) in relation to the registration of Architectural Technologists. In this regard, CIAT has identified that its preferred route is to set up a stand-alone register for Architectural Technologists. As such, it is now a matter for CIAT to set up a register on an administrative basis in keeping with registers already in place for other professional groupings under the Building Control Act 2007 and in consultation with the relevant industry stakeholders. CIAT have been advised that the register should be in place for a sufficient period of time to demonstrate that it operates effectively in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Following this process, my Department will review the register and subject to this review, will then consider bringing forward legislative proposals to place it on a statutory basis. CIAT have been advised of the process required to publish primary legislation.
It is also worth noting that, depending on their personal background and experience, it may be open to persons who are Architectural Technologists, and who possess the requisite experience and competence in the design of buildings, to seek inclusion on either of the statutory registers in respect of Architects or Building Surveyors. A number of Architectural Technologists have already succeeded in gaining inclusion on the statutory registers to date and are thus in a position to act as Design Certifiers and Assigned Certifiers.
