Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the supports his Department will provide to the residents of an area (details supplied) in County Kildare, in respect of health and safety issues, in all aspects possible, in view of the very concerning survey reports that residents are receiving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24076/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that homeowners face when they find that the home in which they have invested may not be completed to the required acceptable standards.

However, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Implementation and enforcement of the building control system is a matter for the relevant building control authority. In addition, local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Safety Act 1981 and the Planning and Development Acts, both of which can also be relevant in relation to fire safety arrangements in residential buildings.

In this context, I am aware that Kildare County Council in its capacity as Fire Authority has previously been engaged with the Owner Management Company and with owners of some individual apartment units in the development concerned to resolve a number of problems that became apparent on and from 2013. I am also aware that, following the recent fire incident affecting a number of units in the development concerned, Kildare County Council engaged the services of a Fire Safety Consultant to assess compliance with fire safety requirements in a number of vacant housing units and a report has been prepared in the matter.

I understand that at a recent meeting between the residents and Minister Kelly, many residents raised concerns in relation to fire safety in their homes. These issues are now under active consideration in my Department and I understand that Minister Kelly will be responding to the residents very shortly.