Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the certification process, I am trying to get a better handle on how this will be certified at the end of the day because I can probably see some weaknesses in the system. I do not believe in signed certification or the authorised certifier. I would prefer if it was an in-house function in the local authority and was done from the start. This is a highly complex situation in which some of these vacant properties will need disability access certification and fire certification. I do not know whether these authorised certifiers will sign off specifically in respect of fire because when one is renovating or retrofitting buildings, one does not use standard materials. Inventive solutions are sometimes found and some of the materials used would not be certified from a fire rating perspective. Will an authorised certifier to sign off on this or will we end up in a quandary? If building control was with the local authority, where I believe it should be, at least its personnel would have the education, training and knowledge to allow them to certify and sign off on such builds. We are heading into a complicated area which could fail to deliver the hoped-for solutions.

That is just with regard to building regulations and certifications, especially in respect of fire and disability access. We can deal with planning.