Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 1092: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason officials of his Department are required to inspect for and produce floor area compliance, when similar work is already undertaken by local authority officials in assessing compliance with building regulations. [10594/05]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1110: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider an arrangement whereby, in order to avoid duplication and potential misinterpretation of compliance with building regulations, a floor area compliance certificate be issued on receipt of certification by a qualified architect, engineer or surveyor. [10986/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1092 and 1110 together.

Under the Building Control Act 1990, local authorities inspect buildings for compliance with the building regulations. However, my Department's housing inspectorate is involved in the inspection of houses in connection with various grant schemes and with certification for taxation and other benefits. This includes inspections carried out for floor area compliance certificates, the requirements of which include, but are not limited to, compliance with the building regulations.

It is appropriate, at a time of record activity in the construction sector, that standards are maintained at a high level. An independent inspection service such as that provided by the Department is an important contribution to the achievement of consistent standards in the current circumstances.

Significant State benefits, by way of tax and stamp duty relief, accrue to those providing and purchasing new houses and the present inspection system helps to ensure protection of these tax expenditures and also to provide a measure of consumer protection. Where differences of interpretation and misunderstandings arise my Department's inspectorate meets the relevant parties with a view to clarifying and where possible resolving such issues.