Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
404. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of valid commencement notices lodged with the building control management software since 1 March 2014, by each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12858/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of valid commencement notices which included a completed optout declaration lodged with the building control management software since 1 September 2015, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12861/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
The purpose of the Building Control Management System (BCMS) is to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990. The system provides a common platform for clear and consistent administration of building control matters across the local authority sector.
My Department is not involved in the day to day operation of this system. However, it collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics, including information on Commencement Notices, which are available on the Department's website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/construction-activity-starts.
In addition, Building Control Authorities are required to keep certain information pertaining to building works that come under the Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 on a statutory register, including particulars in relation to Commencement Notices and Declarations of Intention to Opt Out of Statutory Certification. BCMS is centrally hosted by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the 31 Local Authorities and has enabled this information to be hosted on a central nationwide register, readily available and updated quarterly at https://www.localgov.ie/en/link-type/bcms.
