Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
379. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the recognition of architectural technologists alongside other disciplines in the built environment (details supplied); if he plans to put the recognition on a statutory footing; and if so, the timeline for same to be delivered. [12712/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the process to implement the architectural technologists’ register on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12771/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to grant approval to an organisation (details supplied) to commence operating a shadow register of the planned architectural technologists’ register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12772/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress on implementing the architectural technologists’ register on the necessary statutory footing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12780/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra386. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to implement an architectural technologists’ register including the process to approve committees and boards for the proposed shadow register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12857/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra390. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress which has been made on the process to implement the architectural technology register on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12942/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra411. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the process to place the architectural technologists’ register on a statutory footing; the timeline for the implementation of the register; the reason for the delay in implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13409/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra417. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the register for architectural technicians. [13462/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra420. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will accelerate the steps required to place the architectural technologists’ register on a statutory footing; and the status of progress in relation to same. [13539/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 382, inclusive, 386, 390, 411, 417 and 420 together.
In general, the regulation of professions is in the first instance a matter for industry representatives working in consultation with relevant industry stakeholders. My Department has been engaging with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) in relation to the registration of Architectural Technologists. In this regard, CIAT has identified that its preferred route is to set up a stand-alone register for Architectural Technologists. As such, it is now a matter for CIAT to set up a register on an administrative basis in keeping with registers already in place for other professional groupings under the Building Control Act 2007 and in consultation with the relevant industry stakeholders. CIAT have been advised that the register should be in place for a sufficient period of time to demonstrate that it operates effectively in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Following this process, my Department will review the register and subject to this review, will then consider bringing forward legislative proposals to place it on a statutory basis. CIAT have been advised of the process required to publish primary legislation.
It is also worth noting that, depending on their personal background and experience, it may be open to persons who are Architectural Technologists, and who possess the requisite experience and competence in the design of buildings, to seek inclusion on either of the statutory registers in respect of Architects or Building Surveyors. A number of Architectural Technologists have already succeeded in gaining inclusion on the statutory registers to date and are thus in a position to act as Design Certifiers and Assigned Certifiers.
