Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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547. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to support Irish steel fabrication companies in meeting the requirements of the Construction Products Regulation I.S. EN 1090-1:2009 and covering some of the very significant cost of implementing this regulation; if his attention has been drawn to the serious potential for job losses in companies that do not have the resources to comply with the regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36449/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department has been working with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the industry was aware of, and prepared for, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation in Ireland. I also understand that a significant number of steel fabricators operating in the State have already established the systems necessary to comply with their obligations under the Construction Products Regulation and, more specifically, the requirements of I.S. EN 1090-1.

Local Enterprise Offices have been established within each local authority and can offer a wide range of experience, skills and services to provide assistance in establishing or growing a business in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Offices are committed to delivering an enhanced and more integrated support service for micro and small business and may be in a position to provide support to structural steel fabricators on how they can achieve compliance with the requirements of I.S. EN 1090-1.

Under the Construction Products Regulation, which came into full effect across the EU on 1 July 2013, all construction products covered by a harmonised European standard require a Declaration of Performance and must be CE marked before such products can be placed on the market. There are more than 420 harmonised standards relating to construction products.

The European Commission gave industry an additional 12 month period, until 1 July 201 4, for the introduction of the requirements of the Construction Products Regulation applied to steel fabricators c overed by I.S. EN 1090-1. This was in recognition of the fact that a large number of small steelwork fabricators would benefit from extra time to adapt and prepare.

I would urge all structural steel fabricators who have not done so already to make the arrangements necessary to comply with their obligations under both the Construction Products Regulation and I.S. EN 1090-1 at the earliest possible opportunity.

My Department will continue, of course, to work with all stakeholders to support and facilitate the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation in Ireland.