Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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218. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to update the building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54950/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Building regulations, which are primarily concerned with the safety and well-being of persons in and around buildings, set down mandatory performance standards for buildings. The statutory requirements are set out in twelve parts (classified as parts A to M) included under the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997-2013. Technical guidance documents (TGDs) are published to accompany each of the twelve parts in order to demonstrate how the statutory requirements may be achieved in practice.

Building regulations and accompanying TGDs are subject to on-going review and my Department's current work programme includes a number of such reviews as follows:

- Part B (Fire Safety) is currently undergoing a full review and proposals for a revised Part B/TGD B will be released for public consultation in 2014;

- A full review of Part C/TGD C ( Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) will commence in 2014;

- Part E/TGD E (Sound) is currently open to public consultation with a closing date for submissions set at 14 February 2014; definitive proposals for amended Part E regulations will then be finalised for signature into law by late 2014/early 2015;

- Part J /TGD J (Heat Producing Appliances) and Part K /TGD K ( Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards) have both been fully reviewed and subject to public consultation following which definitive proposals for amended regulations and accompanying TGDs will be recommended to me for consideration and signature into law early in 2014;

- Part L/TGD L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) in respect of buildings other than dwellings is currently being reviewed with a view to being ready for public consultation in mid-2014; (Part L requirements for dwellings were upgraded in 2011).