Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by gas installers regarding the introduction of the non-domestic gas regulation into the current registered gas installer scheme, and that the pathway chosen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities is contradictory to gas safety, operation and control; if there are plans to update these policies with guidelines on testing, installation, certification and limit of scope, which stakeholders feel are currently missing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37394/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by gas installers regarding the impending merge of non-domestic with domestic registered gas installers without additional training, specific certification or competency; if he plans to introduce additional training, certification and or competency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37396/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to report on the consultation carried out with industry in advance of the impending introduction of the non-domestic gas regulation into the current registered gas installer scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37395/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the Commission for Regulation of Utilities or registered gas installer legal position should any accident or incident occur; if work has been carried out to clarify any insurance implications of insufficient training and / or competency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 73, 74 and 75 together.

I propose to take PQs 37394/24, 37395/24, 37396/24 and 37397/24 together.

Under section 9F of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for the regulation of Gas Installers with respect to safety in the Republic of Ireland. As a statutorily independent body, I would refer the Deputy to the CRU for updates on this matter in the first instance.

The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on regulatory matters to CRU at for timely direct reply.

The CRU has advised the following with respect to the questions submitted:

The CRU will shortly seek to introduce a Statutory Instrument to regulate Non-Domestic Gas Works by expanding the scope of the Registered Gas Installers (RGI) scheme. The intent is to provide better oversight of, and outcomes for, gas safety in the workplace. There is presently no requirement to be registered to carry out Non-Domestic Gas Works and there is consequently no ongoing requirement for inspection, certification or training. The expanded RGI scheme will complement the role of the Health and Safety Authority. The CRU will shortly commence a public consultation on aspects of the expanded RGI scheme. A Decision Paper on scheme rules and obligations and an updated Criteria Document will be published as part of the consultation. The CRU has consistently engaged with stakeholders and held multiple public consultations from 2014 to 2022. Recent feedback from industry is informing the forthcoming consultation.

The proposed approach to expand the RGI scheme is enabled by core technical similarities of domestic and non-domestic gas works and is efficient in the relatively small Irish market. The RGI scheme is governed by robust checks and balances. RGIs must comply with the CRU’s Gas Criteria Document and its relevant technical standards and complete the Domestic Gas Assessment of Competency (DGA) every five years. RGIs must ensure they work on installations for which they are competent, this includes non-domestic gas installations in their specific sector. This means they must have the ability, appropriate training, knowledge and experience to supervise or carry out the work being undertaken in a safe and proper manner. With respect to an accident or incident where an RGI has carried out Gas Works, an inspection of the installation may take place and may result in disciplinary action. Separately, the CRU investigates reports/incidents of Gas Works carried out by an individual other than an RGI. It is an offence for anyone other than an RGI to carry out Gas Works and the CRU takes prosecutions in this regard. The requirement for RGIs to hold appropriate insurance is set out in the Gas Criteria Document.