Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 19, 22 and 31 together. In July 2011, I announced several measures to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with and oversight of the requirements of the building regulations. In broad terms the measures, which include the streamlining of inspection arrangements on a regional basis, will involve the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers of buildings confirming that the statutory requirements of the building regulations have been met; more efficient pooling of building control staff and resources throughout the local authority sector to ensure an effective and meaningful oversight of building activity; standardised approaches and common protocols to ensure nationwide consistency in the administration of building control functions; and better support and further development of the building control function nationally. The mandatory certification and improved inspection arrangements outlined above are key reforms which, I believe, will have the capacity to improve the quality of buildings and will lead to further strengthening of the regulatory regime as soon as possible in 2012.

The local government efficiency review group recommended in its report in July 2010 that a single building inspectorate service could be established on a regional basis to streamline the approach to the inspection of property. The matter is being kept under review in the context of the ongoing actions taken at Department and at local authority levels to further the development of the building control function.

The Building Control Act 2007 provided for the registration of persons entitled to the use of the titles of architects, quantity surveyor and building surveyor. Any similar registration scheme for home builders would necessarily involve detailed consultation with industry and stakeholders. While the new approach now being developed to the enforcement of building standards may obviate the need for such a scheme, I have an open mind in regard to potential future consideration of such a scheme in light of our recent experience with the operation of the new and more stringent certification scheme now being developed. Snag inspections relate to the contractual relationship between the vendor of a property and the purchaser and are not part of the statutory processes addressed under the Building Control Act 1990.

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