Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2023
139. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to significant wait periods to get a fire safety certificate from Wicklow County Council (details supplied) for completed building works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9004/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations.
The Building Regulations set out the minimum legal performance requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings. The purpose of the Building Regulations is primarily to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. The Building Control Regulations set out the system of administrative controls to support compliance with the Building Regulations.
A Fire Safety Certificate is a certificate granted by a Building Control Authority, which certifies that the building or works, if constructed in accordance with the plans, documents and information submitted to the Authority, would comply with the requirements of Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 as amended.
Fire Safety 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 who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2020. My Department has no involvement in the operational or transactional element of this mandatory statutory requirement.
