Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the financial assistance available to the residents of Priory Hall, Dublin 13, who have had to leave their apartment complex due to a lack of fire safety through no fault of their own and also need help with mortgage repayments if they are moved from a hotel to another apartment block in the interim while works are completed and forced to pay rent on top of a mortgage which is not an option for owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31423/11]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of serious issues have been raised by residents and the fire officer in relation to an apartment complex (details supplied) in Dublin 22; the steps he will take to ensure that these issues will be satisfactorily resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31647/11]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the need for an urgent review and reform of building and fire regulations and inspection regimes, ending self-regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31731/11]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will be contacting all local authorities requesting them to carry out an audit of all multi-unit buildings built during the boom years and further requesting them to confirm to him that there are no more complexes like Priory Hall throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31424/11]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assistance available to the residents of Priory Hall, Dublin 13, who have had to leave their apartment complex while the apartment block is upgraded due to a lack of fire safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31425/11]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to make policy changes to ensure that cases like Priory Hall, Dublin, never happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31426/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 to 351, inclusive, and 382 to 384, inclusive, together.

My Department is liaising with local authorities in relation to significant building control issues that have arisen in other multi-unit developments across the country, including the Aras na Cluaine Complex, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 which has already been the subject of court proceedings brought by South Dublin County Council. Local authorities already have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under current legislation and have used such powers on a number of occasions where circumstances similar to those at Priory Hall have arisen. I have urged local authorities to continue to use all of the powers currently available to them to address serious building defects.

I attach high priority to consumer protection in the area of quality construction of new dwellings. That is why, in July 2010, I announced a number of 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 will involve:-

(a) 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;

(b) more efficient pooling of building control staff and resources across the local authority sector to ensure more effective and meaningful oversight of building activity;

(c) standardised approaches and common protocols to ensure nationwide consistency in the administration of building control functions;

(d) better support and further development of the building control function nationwide.

Mandatory certification and improved inspection arrangements are key reforms which will, I believe, have the capacity to improve the quality of buildings and will lead to further strengthening of the regulatory regime as early as possible in 2012. It is important to note, however, that a robust system of building control does exist and this is demonstrated by the Priory Hall situation where the local authority is successfully using its powers to make the appropriate party responsible.

In relation to further financial assistance and help with mortgage repayments for Priory Hall residents, I understand that Dublin City Council, having moved quickly to make arrangements for the provision of temporary accommodation for affected residents who required it, continues to engage with the residents in order to address and advise them in relation to specific family and individual needs. I have no function in relation to this aspect of the matter but I have asked Dublin City Council to do all they can to assist the affected residents and see them through this very stressful and distressing ordeal. I would also urge relevant financial institutions to show similar compassion and understanding in their dealings with affected residents.