Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am finding this quite complex. I do not know whether anybody else is finding the same. I will have a think about it and may come back with further questions.

Senator Fitzpatrick referred to SI 365 of 2015, which provides for an opt-out from the certification process in respect of one-off rural housing. I understand that provision applies to approximately one quarter of all housing built in the country every year. I can guess why the opt-out was requested. For someone building a one-off house, the consideration is that he or she will live there and it will not be sold on as a product. There will not be a chain of issue in such instances. However, the provision should be considered with a little more urgency than what I hear is being applied. I thank the witnesses for their replies to my questions.