Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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12. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 23 October 2012 in which he noted that the local building control authorities are empowered to bring summary prosecutions for building code offences in the District Court and have wide powers to make application to the High Court to secure orders where buildings do not comply with the requirements of the building regulations and that local authorities have further strong enforcement powers available under the Fire Services Act 1981 while acting in their capacity as fire authorities, the uses of the above powers to enforce fire safety compliance in the 12 months since he gave this information to Dáil Éireann following the Priory Hall saga and in view of the unknown widespread non-compliance with fire safety regulations leaving whole apartment blocks as fire hazards noted at Foxford Court, Lucan, Thornfield Square, Clondalkin and Belmayne among others. [44769/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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As indicated in the reply to Question No. 100 of 23 October 2012, local authorities have extensive powers under the Building Control Acts which they can use to enforce compliance with the building regulations. However, there is a time limit of five years after a building has been completed during which an enforcement notice may be served by a local building control authority.

I can give the Deputy more substantive information afterwards if I do not get time to give an exhaustive reply but in regard to Belmayne, I understand that remediation work on 225 units has now been completed while seven units remain to be remediated.

In regard to Foxford Court, the site was visited in April this year and evaluated by a fire safety officer from Dublin City Council who confirmed he did not require evacuation of any dwellings subject to early advancement of the remediation works. The developers prepared and issued a detailed remedial works tender based on fire safety strategies prepared by Pro-Fire consultants and agreed with the Dublin City fire safety officer. The tender issued to four companies that have worked successfully with South Dublin County Council in refurbishing work when the tenants remain in their homes during remedial works, and a contractor has now been selected.

In regard to Thornfield Square, Clondalkin, south Dublin, the position is that a fire in a communal corridor which may have been malicious has been dealt with and is understood to be under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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No loss of life has occurred but undoubtedly it has been a traumatic time for the people involved. A report in the matter is being sought and I will let the Deputy know in due course when I get it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will let you back in, Minister.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I can give the Deputy more information on it.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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While I would very much appreciate that full report I will give the Minister a list twice as long the next time to get that information. I am grateful to receive that but to revert to the question I asked the Minister at the end of my contribution, what was the particular breach of the fire safety regulations in regard to Priory Hall, and can the Minister give us an assurance that that breach does not exist in any of the other developments?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I have changed the Building Control Regulations, as the Deputy is aware. It is the first time in many years that all of this has been revamped to make sure that the residents, the people in the apartment block or in the house, are on a risk-based approach being able to ensure that we have good, sound, heavy-handed regulation this time rather than light-touch regulation. The building control authorities will be inspecting on a regular basis, during the course of the mandatory process we are now putting in place under this new building control regime, to ensure that the customer is protected in terms of their investment and in regard to redress.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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That is only for developments from now.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I cannot be responsible for the sins of the past, and I am sure the Deputy would not expect me to be.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Will the local authorities be culpable?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There are many legacy issues that we have to try to resolve, and we have a lot more to do.