Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Exactly. I know that in order to protect the consumer, all those who take an active part in the construction process should be assessed on their own merits and within their own competence and then regulated as necessary. The building control regulations zone in on the very essence of architectural technology, namely, building regulations but I do not think they see a role for those who are trained and experienced in that area. I know it is felt that the skill set of the architectural technologist, while relevant to the construction industry and more importantly, in terms of the building regulations, is outside the terms of the current Act. As a result, the situation of architectural technologists, while alluded to in the Act, is not adequately catered for. In order to play a lead in this new regime, professional architectural technologists who have many decades of experience in that area must now deny their primary qualifications in architectural technology, claim to be either architects or building surveyors and seek entry into those statutory registers. I think the Minister said that those who have been operating within the scope of the Act should now declare themselves architects or building surveyors and submit to registration in those fields. It is felt that this is deeply flawed and will lead to many unsuccessful applications and many problems for the Department. To present it as a solution to those faced with retraining or an exit from their profession is far worse.

Based on my understanding, professional architectural technologists carry out some, but not always all, of the duties of architects or building surveyors. They do so on the basis of multiple shared competences. Such individuals possess varying degrees of academic training but with a very different focus than either of the regulated professions. While many architectural technologists will have completed a wide variety of construction projects on the basis of their qualifications or as part of the team, it is often without the necessity of using any of the protected titles so there would be a reluctance on their part to make a declaration regarding the breadth of their duties in comparison with those of an architect or a building surveyor on foot of the scope of the services they have provided.

I am raising this issue because time is a major factor given that in May 2014, two years after the public consultation on the matter will have ended, another raft of architectural technology graduates will enter the employment market with no defined role or context under the legislation. Again, we will see another intake into the same cycle in September. Could the Minister tell me whether we will give consideration to providing a direct route for these architectural technologists?