Ms Sarah Neary:

I will give a short response. Part B of the building regulations deals with fire safety and has been undergoing a significant review in recent years. Due to the complexity involved, it has been separated into dwellings and other buildings. Part B and technical guidance document, TGD, B are out for public consultation. The review represents a complete reworking of TGD B.

It is now a document that contains all of the references. They reviewed the situation post Grenfell and the position relating to emerging technologies, and modernised a document that dated back to the 1990s. In doing so, they clarified a number of issues. Hopefully, there are fewer grey areas and fewer reasons for appeal.

There is also a steering group on research, the membership of which includes fire officers in local authorities. This was established for areas that cannot be covered by the technical guidance document. There is much more happening in that space now. An Bord Pleanála is semi-judicial in its functions. In that regard, it is the appeals body in the context of fire safety certificates. The numbers of appeals are quite low in terms of overall activity in the sector.