Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Building Regulations.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

115 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the president of the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute regarding falling standards in the home construction industry; the steps, if any, being taken to ensure that all houses are constructed to an acceptable standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1575/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

I am aware of the concerns regarding standards of new houses expressed by the president of the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute. I understand that the IAVI president suggested that there was a decline in the standards of finish in new housing in her comments, with particular reference to lengthening snag lists. This is an issue that has been taken up by the Director of Consumer Affairs and my Department will be pursuing the issue further with the Director and the Irish Home Builder's Association.

The question was also posed by the IAVI president that, if standards of finish are falling, whether there should be concerns regarding structural standards. The primary responsibility for ensuring that proper construction standards are met in housing rests with developers, designers and builders. HomeBond, the national house building guarantee scheme, inspect newly constructed houses before offering their ten year warranty, which of course covers major defects of a structural nature. My Department's housing inspectors inspect new houses, for which new house grant applications have been lodged, for compliance with the grant standards. Both HomeBond and my Department's inspectorate are, therefore, well placed to observe whether construction standards, particularly in relation to major structural defects, are declining and neither my Department nor HomeBond have found evidence of a decline in structural standards of construction.

I also understand that the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland has received no reports, from members or practices, of any significant decline in construction standards for new houses.

Alan M. Dukes

Ceist:

116 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason 8 in. cavity block construction is acceptable in the construction of speculative private dwellings whereas 12 in. cavity or twin insulated walling is specified for local authority units. [1565/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

My Department lays down no specific standard for construction of local authority housing other than that the form of construction used should comply with the building regulations. Traditionally, local authorities and many private developers and builders have favoured cavity wall construction while some private developers and builders, mainly in the greater Dublin area, have opted for hollow block construction.

The building regulations do not place a restriction on the use of any particular method of construction or product, provided the performance requirements of the regulations are met e.g. in relation to thermal performance, structural stability, etc. It is a matter for building owners, designers and builders to ensure that their buildings comply with the regulations and to select the form of construction and product which best meets their needs in achieving this.