Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The answer in respect of certification costs. The costs may be as the witness says but the charges to the end user are far in excess of what they should be. Would Mr. Fitzpatrick not agree that there should be a new licensing system for the way it is patrolled or policed and that local authorities have a role, considering they were supposed to have one under the old legislation with the compliance officers within local authorities? Is Mr. Fitzpatrick aware of the costs for certification of a one-off building? I agree that the end user must have some sense of security about the reliability of the work, that it complies with building regulations, has planning permission and so forth but these costs are way in excess of what they should be. That has to be addressed. I do not accept that those charges are nearer to €2,000 and €3,000. Many of my constituents pay far in excess of that. Many people around this city are being charged far in excess of that and it must be addressed.