Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Building Control Act 2007 has created a situation whereby the dominant representative association (details supplied) is also the regulating body for that profession, contrary to the specific recommendations of the Competition Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34669/11]

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has estimated the cost to domestic consumers of removing a significant number of architects from the market through the absence of a standard grandfather clause in part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34670/11]

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the €4,500 technical assessment fee for architects under the Building Control Act 2007 makes that assessment the most costly of its type in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34671/11]

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will amend the Building Control Act 2007 to include a grandfather clause for those with acquired rights and so enable them to continue to certify as architects in the State without being criminalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34672/11]

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the costly and non-inclusive routes for the registration of architects with acquired rights constitutes the sheltering of the architecture profession and that the State, the public and consumers are thereby ill-served by Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34673/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 to 412, inclusive, together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 108 of 3 November 2011 which comprehensively addressed the issues regarding the registration of the title of Architect.

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has been designated as the registration body for persons wishing to use the title of architect, under the Building Control Act 2007. They have established an Admissions Board and a Technical Assessment Board. The Chairpersons of both boards were appointed by my predecessor and both boards have non-architect majority members on them, again appointed by my predecessor. Section 22 of the Act sets out the procedures for the operation of the Technical Assessment Board. The Act also provides for an appeal against a decision of the Technical Assessment Board and there is ultimately an appeal to the High Court against a decision of the Appeals Board or any other Board or Committee. I am satisfied that the process is transparent and is operating satisfactorily.

The Act sought to provide for the registration of the title of Architect in order to protect consumers against individuals passing themselves off as Architects. The fee of €4,500 for technical assessment, approved in accordance with Section 62 of the Act, represents a significant reduction on the figure originally proposed.