Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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523. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding building control regulations. [43183/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The correspondence referred to in the Question relates to the arrangements in place since 1 March 2014 under S.I. No. 9 of 2014 for the giving of statutory certificates of compliance with building regulations in respect of the design and construction of building projects in general. An extensive public consultation process was undertaken in 2012 to inform the development of the revised building control regulations which came into effect on 1 March 2014. Comprehensive consultation documents were published, including Strengthening the Building Control System - A Document to inform public consultation on Draft Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012, which set out the context in which the revised regulatory framework would operate and the impact of same f or building owners and industry stakeholders. This document remains available on my Department’s website, at .

Over 500 submissions were received in response to that public consultation from construction industry stakeholders, individual practitioners and members of the public. Concerns similar to those outlined in the detailed and comprehensive correspondence referred to in the Question were raised with and fully considered by my Department in this context. Such external input is extremely helpful and valuable. However, the time available for public consultation is finite and my Department’s consideration of this matter has effectively concluded given that SI No. 9 of 2014 is now in place and is fully operational.

My Department continues to work closely with industry during the implementation stage to ensure that all parties fully understand their obligations and how they can be fulfilled in practice.

I would also encourage the correspondent to contact both the RIAI and the SCSI as the respective registration bodies for Architects and for Building Surveyors in relation to the routes to registration that are currently available to him. My Department continues to liaise with the registration bodies and other interested parties such as the Architects Alliance of Ireland and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in relation to the ongoing development of arrangements in place for the registration of construction professionals in line with the recommendations made in the Fennell Report published last year or in any other reasonable and appropriate way.