Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of inspections that have been carried out on apartment blocks to estimate the level of fire and safety defects present. [23894/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including Part B (Fire Safety), rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Acts and who are independent in the use of their statutory powers.

In addition, local authorities also have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, the Housing Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be relevant where fire safety concerns arise in residential developments. Fire services may inspect buildings in cases of defects or complaints in respect of fire safety.  They work with building owners to ensure immediate risks are addressed, and put a plan in place for works to bring buildings into compliance. They have enforcement powers for cases where co-operation is not forthcoming, or progress cannot be made on an agreed basis. 

In addition in August 2017, I published a Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings, which is intended to be used as a guide by the owners and occupants of dwellings where fire safety deficiencies have been identified, or are a cause for concern. The Framework is also of assistance to professional advisors both in developing strategies to improve fire safety and in developing strategies to enable continued occupation in advance of undertaking the necessary works to ensure compliance with the relevant Building Regulations.  The framework is available on my Department's website at the following link:

www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/framework_for_enhancing_fire_safety_in_dwellings.pdf.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017, and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, Minister Murphy tasked the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management with convening and coordinating a Task Force to lead a re-appraisal of our approach to fire safety in Ireland. He also tasked them to oversee a review of fire safety in local authority provided multi-storey, multi-unit social housing and a separate review of medium to high rise buildings (> 18 metres or 6 storeys). The Task Force has recently completed its report and this is now being examined urgently.

Separately, under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, which apply to all properties let or available to let, local authorities also carry out inspections to check that rental properties comply with the regulations. This includes checking compliance with fire safety requirements, such as fire detection and alarm systems and emergency lighting.