Letters

Enforcing building regulations

Local authorities have not been provided with adequate resources

Sat May 13 2023 - 00:14

Sir, – Following the recent announcement of the defects scheme for apartments and duplexes, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien stated, “We also need to continue strengthening our building control system so that similar issues don’t arise in the future.”

Since June 1st, 1992, the role of the building control authority (ie the local authority) in the construction of buildings has been reactive rather than proactive. The reasons for this very limited role is due mainly to the fact that the local authorities have not been adequately supported and resourced by the Department of the Environment. The department would say that the local authorities have been given all the powers of inspection and enforcement. Unfortunately, however, the local authorities have not been provided with the resources to carry out the necessary inspections of buildings under construction. As a consequence, the building control section within the local authority is considered the “poor relation”.

Due to the limited nature of inspections by building control officers of buildings under construction, it is essential that they are appropriately qualified and competent and that they receive appropriate training in the complex area of carrying out inspections and recording of same. This training should include legal guidance.

I welcome the establishment of an independent building standards regulator. Again, it is not sufficient to rely on the regulator having “effective powers of inspection and enforcement and an appropriate suite of sanctions”. It is essential that the regulator is fully supported by the Department of the Environment to ensure that all the building control authorities are inspecting buildings under construction in an open, professional and competent manner. – Yours, etc,

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DONAL CASEY,

(Former Assistant

Chief Fire Officer,

Dublin Fire Brigade),

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 16.