Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1204. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to review issues that have been raised in relation to a building defect in a particular new build estate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45860/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Building Regulations 1997 - 2024 set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents (Parts A - M respectively) available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/d9729-technical-guidance-documents/ provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms.  Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with the relevant regulation(s).

The overarching requirements of Part D (Material and Workmanship) of the Building Regulations is that all works should be carried out:

• Using proper materials which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used.
• With a proper standard of workmanship and the appropriate use of any material to achieve compliance with the requirements of the Regulations.

My Department has published a guide “Heating and Domestic Hot Water Systems for Dwellings – Achieving compliance with Part L & Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2019”. This guide covers conventional means of providing primary and secondary space heating and domestic hot water for dwellings in Ireland, including heat pump systems. 

Enforcement of the Building Regulations is delegated under the Building Control Act 1990 – 2020 to the local building control authorities (i.e. the 31 local authorities) who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers.