I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 575 together.
In accordance with the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2007, responsibility for the oversight of construction activity, including the enforcement of the Building Regulations, is a matter for each local authority in relation to its own functional area. My responsibility, as Minister, is to ensure that appropriate statutory requirements, technical standards and administrative provisions are put in place in relation to the Act. In this regard, I announced a number of measures in July, 2011 to be advanced by my Department and local authorities with a view to improving compliance with, and oversight of, the requirements of the Building Regulations.
In broad terms the measures will involve:—
(a) the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers of buildings confirming that the statutory requirements of the Building Regulations have been met;
(b) the lodgement of drawings at both commencement and completion of construction, demonstrating how the building has been designed and built to comply with all parts of the Building Regulations;
(c) more efficient pooling of building control staff and resources across the local authority sector to ensure more effective and meaningful oversight of building activity;
(d) standardised approaches and common protocols to ensure nationwide consistency in the administration of building control functions;
(e) better support and further development of the building control function nationwide.
The Departmental inspectors referred to in the Questions have no formal role in relation to the Building Control Acts. The duties of the inspectorate included the issuance of Floor Area Compliance Certificates (FACCs) for dwelling units which qualified for a concession on stamp duty under the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999. However, the demand for FACCs no longer exists following the granting of a general exemption from stamp duty to first time buyers.
Of a total complement of 34 in the Housing Inspectorate in my Department, 1 has recently retired and 1 has transferred to the Office of Public Works. 14 of the remaining inspectors have been made available for redeployment to other duties and areas of business in the context of overall public service reform and the Croke Park Agreement. My Department continues to retain an appropriate level of technical expertise necessary to support the determination of public policy in relation to housing and planning matters.