Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the title of architect in Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31393/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 provides for the registration of persons entitled to use the title of Architect in order to protect consumers against individuals passing themselves off as Architects. Since the commencement of the Act any person not being so registered who uses the title architect (either alone or in combination with any other words or letters, or name, title or description) may be guilty of an offence which, on summary conviction, may result in a fine not exceeding €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or both.

To date it is understood that some 54 practically-trained architects have successfully applied for admission onto the register having passed the prescribed register admissions examination in line with Section 14(f) of the Act or undergone technical assessment in line with section 22. I recently asked Mr. Garrett Fennell, Solicitor, who is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Admissions Board relevant to the register of Architects, to carry out an independent review of the experience to date in relation to the operation of the register with a view to identifying any further improvements that can be made at this point. The terms of reference for the review specifically address the matter of how the registration of practically trained architects can be further encouraged and I look forward to any recommendations and views the review report may offer in this regard in the coming months.