Written answers

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Architects Register

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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673. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 23 January 2018, if he will address matters (details supplied) on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5648/19]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Building Control Act 2007 designated the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) as the registration bodies for those professions.

The Fennell Review recommended in 2013 that in the context of any future reviews, consideration might be given to the introduction of an overarching supervisory regulator for the various professional bodies. However, subsequently, the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 were introduced, requiring greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction by registered construction professionals and builders, lodgment of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates. A Certificate of Compliance on Completion is jointly signed by the builder and the assigned certifier. In effect, the statutory Certificate of Compliance on Completion certifies that a building is compliant with all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations. This has brought an order and discipline in relation to compliance on all construction projects and has enhanced customer confidence in this area; accordingly, I have no plans at this stage to introduce any new arrangements in relation to the registration of architects.

As indicated in my reply to Question No. 268 of 23 January 2019, my Department will be reviewing the relevant reporting arrangements in relation to the RIAI's functions under the Building Control Act 2007 in the context of the reporting received in respect of 2018. The Department is currently engaging with the RIAI in this regard to improve the presentation of the relevant income and expenditure in order that there is full transparency in this matter.

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