Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2015
13. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of extra costs being imposed on the owners of self-built homes as a consequence of the building regulations that came into effect in 2014. [22064/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key impact on costs associated with SI No. 9 of 2014 lies in the requirement for the appointment of an Assigned Certifier whose role, in conjunction with the builder and the project team, is to draw up and execute an appropriate inspection plan and to certify the building on completion. While fees for professional services are determined by market forces and are therefore outside the scope of my regulatory powers, my Department has recently prepared a Sample Preliminary Inspection Plan for a Single Unit Dwelling on a Single Development which has been subject to a recent public consultation exercise undertaken as part of a general review of SI No. 9 of 2014 during its first twelve months in operation. A copy of this plan and all other documents released as part of the public consultation process are available on my Department's website at http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/PublicConsultations/
Cost calculations published to accompany the Sample Preliminary Inspection Plan demonstrate that the new Assigned Certifier role can be achieved at an approximate cost of €3,800 incl. VAT. Where additional design work is required the combined cost of Assigned Certifier duties and additional design work will be of the order of €6,000 incl. VAT.
The arrangements in respect of self-built, one-off houses form an essential element of a full review of the broader operation of S.I. No. 9 of 2014. Some 170 submissions have been received during the public consultation stage of this review process which concluded on 15 May 2015. These submissions are currently being considered and my Department will produce a report on the matter by end June 2015 with a view to ensuring that any measures required can be put in place as a matter of priority.
