Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 588 of 10 February 2015, the status of the decision by Quality Qualifications Ireland to facilitate the development of a common standard for architectural technology, in line with the National Qualifications Framework; the status of the advancement of plans for the strategy registration of architectural technologists; the details of the public consultation which was carried out, with a view to the publication of legislative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41600/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) set up a working group which was given the task of defining a proposed national standard for Architectural Technology for inclusion in the National Qualifications Framework. The working group has since finalised its work and I understand that QQI has earlier this month released the draft standards in Architectural Technology Levels 6 to 9 for public consultation with a view to their formal adoption and publication by the QQI Policy and Standards Committee. The closing date for submissions in this public consultation process is 6 January 2016.

The adoption of an agreed national standard to which all education providers must work will enable my Department to provide for statutory registration of the profession of Architectural Technologist in Ireland. Statutory registration would allow suitably qualified and experienced registered technologists, among other things, to independently sign statutory certificates for building control purposes.

In the context of a review by my Department earlier this year of the revised arrangements for building control following the first twelve months in operation of SI No. 9 of 2014, views were sought through public consultation on a number of proposals aimed at broadening the pool of professionals who may sign statutory certificates of compliance. There was considerable support among respondents for the statutory registration of Architectural Technologists. In announcing the outcome of this review on 31 July 2015, Minister Kelly and I reaffirmed our commitment to advancing the statutory registration of architectural technologists.  

My Department anticipates that it will be in a position to begin the drafting of the Heads of Bill for the necessary legislation to provide for statutory registration of Architectural Technologists in 2016 with a view to its being ready for consideration by Government at an opportune time once a National Standard for Architectural Technology is included under the National Qualifications Framework.