Written answers

Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Building Regulations

9:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the role and responsibility of his Department in addressing the serious fire hazard problems that continue to affect an apartment complex (details supplied) in Dublin 17 in view of the ongoing distress that has been caused to families and households in the complex and the Department's key mandate for setting and invigilating the regime of fire safety standards and monitoring by fire safety authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36673/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and Building Control Act and associated Regulations 1997- 2008 include a range of provisions for fire safety in the design, construction, operation and management of buildings (including apartments).

Part B of the Building Regulations 1997 sets out the fire safety requirements to be observed in the design and construction of certain buildings including apartment complexes. Building Control authorities review the design of buildings from a fire safety perspective and, if satisfied, issue a fire safety certificate in respect of the design. Building Control authorities have a range of enforcement powers available to them where breaches of building regulations come to light.

Section 18 (Part 3) of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003 places a duty on persons having control over premises, such as apartment complexes, to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire and to ensure the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire. Section 4 of the Act provides that it an offence for any person to contravene any requirement of Part 3 of the Act.

Section 22 of the Fire Services Act 1981, as amended, empowers fire authorities to inspect any land or building, including apartment complexes, for the purpose of the Act, including enforcement of fire safety matters. Fire authorities have a range of powers available to them, updated and strengthened in 2003, to ensure fire safety in buildings. I have no role in the day to day exercise of these functions.

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