14 February 2007

Environment

Prosecutions for non-compliance with the Building Regulations

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and nature of the prosecutions taken by local authorities or his Department regarding non-compliance by developers with Parts B, M and L of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche):

Responsibility for enforcement of the building regulations is a matter for the 37 local building control authorities.

Half-yearly statistics on enforcement of the regulations, furnished by local building control authorities to my Department, do not give a breakdown of the prosecutions initiated for non-compliance with the 12 Parts (A to M) of the Regulations. However, the statistical returns for the period January- June 2006, show that 15 Enforcement Notices were served by building control authorities under the Building Control Act 1990 for non-compliance with the building regulations. In addition, 6 summary prosecutions were taken by the authorities.

My Department's circular letter BC 14/2006 has requested local building control authorities to include, in future statistical returns, starting with returns for the revised July – December 2006, a breakdown as to what specific Part or Parts of the building regulations is/are the subject of enforcement notice or legal proceedings initiated by the authorities for non-compliance with the building regulations.