Ms Orla Hegarty:

Mr. O'Mahony would be working in the very compliant end of the sector. It is important to point out that inspection opt-outs are being sought for a substantial number of new houses. Another substantial sector of new build housing is in the zone where the industry rate for an inspection regime is about €2,000. This certainly would not deliver the number of inspections that Mr. O'Mahony referenced in his company.

There is a skills shortage across the industry. If it is anticipated that housing output will increase from 14,500 new homes last year to 25,000 new homes in the next year or two, sufficient resources to inspect these homes will not be available, unless there is some strategic approach to using resources in a targeted way. We will be back to where we were ten or 15 years ago when inspections were visual. It will just mean there is more paperwork attached. The resources are not available to do eight, ten or 20 inspections on every new house. The regime has to be rethought.