Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I move Amendment No. 14:

In page 7, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:

4.—Section 3 of the Act of 1990 is amended in subsection (2)—

(a) in paragraph (e), by substituting "practice;" for "practice; and", and

(b) by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (e):

"(ea) making provision for building practices that would assist in preventing or detecting crime; and".

This amendment to the Building Control Act 1990 is to clarify that building regulations may be made to provide for good building practice to help in the prevention or detection of crime. The Department proposes to insert a new Part M, security of buildings, in the Buildings Regulation 1997, SI 497 of 1997, which would set out a general security requirement for doors, including locks, and windows, including glazing, so that they would comply with minimum security requirements. Detailed guidance on how to comply with the Part M requirement would be set out in a new technical guidance document to be drawn up by my Department. I am including this amendment at the request of the national crime prevention office of the Garda Síochána which made representations to me to provide for improved security of doors and windows in dwellings under the national building regulations. I wholeheartedly agreed with the request and that is why I have moved this amendment.

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