Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to amend the Building Control Regulations to provide for the physical inspection of a new building to ensure that it has been built according to the plans for which a fire safety certificate was issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16742/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013. which I signed in to law on 8 March 2013. will come into effect on and from 1 March 2014. The new regulations will strengthen the current arrangements for the control of building activity by requiring the following in relation to all significant building works: (a) drawings and particulars used for the purposes of construction to be submitted to the local building control authority;(b) design to be undertaken and certified by competent professionals prior to works commencing;(c) owners to formally assign a competent builder to undertake and certify the works;(d) owners to formally assign a registered professional (to be known as the ‘Assigned Certifier’) who will be tasked with (i) preparing an appropriate inspection plan for the building or works during construction (ii) carrying out inspections and overseeing inspection works by other parties in accordance with the inspection plan and (iii) certifying the works for compliance with the building regulations on completion;(e) statutory certificates of compliance from designers, builders and assigned certifiers to confirm compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations - including the requirements in relation to Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations - and accepting legal responsibility for their work.

I am satisfied that the reforms now provided for. including the lodgement of drawings, inspection by registered professionals and statutory certification will result in the necessary improvement in the quality of buildings and ensure that homeowners in particular are delivered the quality of homes they expect and deserve.