Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 May 2017
134. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of notifications by a building control authority to builders that a commencement notice does not comply with article 9 of the Building Control Regulations, as provided for under section 8 subsection (b) of the Building Control Regulations, in each year since the Building Control Amendment 2014. [22227/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the Deputy's request, the issue referred to is a matter for local authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2014.
The Building Control Management System (BCMS) provides a common platform for clear and consistent administration of building control matters across the local authority sector. The BCMS is an IT enabler, set up to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990.
My Department is not involved in the day to day operation of this system. However, it collates and publishes a 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.
