My Department has overall responsibility for the statutory regulatory framework governing Building Regulations, Building Control and Fire Services. Inspection and enforcement are a matter for local authorities who, under the relevant legislation, are designated as Building Control and Fire Authorities in their respective functional areas and have extensive statutory powers of inspection and enforcement.
A Fire Safety Certificate is a certificate granted by a local Building Control Authority which specifies that the works or building to which the application relates will, if carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted, comply with the requirements of Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. A Fire Safety Certificate is required for certain works to existing buildings, including a material alteration or change of use, to which the requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations apply.
A Disability Access Certificate is a certificate granted by a local Building Control Authority which specifies that the works or building to which the application relates will, if carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted, comply with the requirements of Part M of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. Where a Fire Safety Certificate is required for any works, a Disability Access Certificate is also required.
Fire Safety Certificates, Disability Access Certificates and all other statutory Certificates required pursuant to the Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations are lodged with the appropriate local Building Control Authority and my Department has no involvement in the operational or transactional element of this mandatory statutory requirement.
The information sought by the Deputy may be obtained directly from the relevant local Building Control Authority, Dublin City Council, although some of the information requested is available on the Building Control Management System online public register – specifically at page number 43 of the Q.2 2017 document at the following web address: https://www.localgov.ie/sites/default/files/building_register_q22017.pdf .
I would like to reaffirm that the paramount priority is and must always be life safety in and about buildings, including the safety and welfare of families placed in emergency accommodation. I have been informed that Dublin City Council met Dublin Fire Services on 21 June 2017 and will be working with them to implement further precautions to enable the particular facility to be utilised on a contingency basis as a harm reduction measure to ensure that families do not have to sleep rough, while the broader refurbishment of the property is completed, allowing it to then serve as supported temporary accommodation for families.
