The Government has approved the drafting of legislation to set up a new Building Standards Regulatory Authority.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said that the move would improve compliance and strengthen oversight in the sector, while also enhancing public confidence in construction-related activity.

The move follows the publication of a report by a steering group set up to examine the issue.

It recommends the establishment by order of a Building Standards Agency (BSA) under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, to be followed by legislation to set up an independent Building Standards Regulatory Authority.

‘Effective powers’

The steering group’s report sets out the following functions for the new authority:

• Strengthen the oversight role of the State in respect of the design and construction of buildings,
• Strengthen the oversight of the marketing and use of construction products,
• Reduce the risk of building failures and recurring defects,
• Improve public-service delivery by further developing consistency in the application of building-control, construction-product, and other related EU legislation,
• Drive compliance with legislative provisions, and
• Enhance public confidence in construction-related activity.

It adds that the new body should have “effective powers of inspection and enforcement, and an appropriate suite of sanctions”.

500 staff needed

The report also says that the authority should be “adequately resourced and funded”, adding that around 500 staff will be needed – including staff from local authorities.

Under current legislation, local authorities are responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with building regulations.

The report noted several weaknesses in the current system – including lack of resources, staff-retention issues, varying levels of enforcement, and the inconsistent application of regulations.