Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to establish a construction industry register of competent contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17442/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) was established by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as a register of builders and contractors. Participation in the register is voluntary at present and I understand that to date approximately 800 building and contracting entities have registered.

The Government signalled its commitment in the Construction 2020 Strategy and in the Action Plan for Jobs to place the Construction Industry Register Ireland on a statutory footing. CIRI is viewed as an essential consumer protection measure that will give consumers who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. Legislative proposals in this regard are currently being finalised by my Department with a view to the General Scheme of a Bill being presented to Government for consideration.