Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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410. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason new housing developments cannot at present be uploaded onto the Building Control Management System; if this can be changed in order that development can recommence promptly once restrictions are lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13400/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Building owners, and builders are responsible for ensuring that buildings or works are carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Building Regulations. Under Article 8 of the Building Control Regulations 1997 – 2020, ‘A person who intends to carry out any works, or to make a material change of use as regards a building to which this Part applies, shall give, to the building control authority in whose functional area the works or building are, is or will be situated, notice in writing of such intention (in these Regulations referred to as a “commencement notice”) not less than fourteen days and not more than twenty-eight days before the commencement of the works or the making of the material change of use’.

The Building Control Management System (BCMS) provides a common platform for clear and consistent administration of building control matters across the local authority sector. The BCMS is an IT enabler, set up to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990.

As Minister, I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the operation of the BCMS which is managed by the National Building Control Office (NBCO) within Dublin City Council (DCC) as an effective shared service in the 31 Building Control Authorities. The NBCO may be contacted by phone at 01 222 7947/7948 or by email to support@nbco.gov.ie.

Current covid restrictions are set out in the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020(), as amended. Under these regulations construction is closed with the exception of essential services. An essential service means a service specified in Part 2 of the Schedule to the Principal Regulations. An explanation of what is considered essential in relation to construction and development is available at the following link:

Finally, the issues referred to by the Deputy are a matter for local Building Control Authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 -2020. However, my Department is currently engaging with the relevant authorities with a view to ensuring that development can recommence promptly once restrictions are lifted.