The Government is to establish a new regulator to oversee the construction of buildings.
The Buildings Standards Regulatory Authority will have powers of inspection, enforcement and will have a range of sanctions available to it.
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien will seek Cabinet approval for the establishment of the new regulator.
This step was recommended under the Government’s Housing for All strategy.
The body will also have oversight of the marketing and use of construction products. The aim is to reduce the risk of building failures and recurring defects.
It is hoped the new body will increase public confidence in construction.
It is likely the authority will require primary legislation.
While the legislation is being drafted and passed through the Oireachtas an interim Building Standards Agency will be established by order to speed up the development of governance and management structures.
It will also increase inspection capacity by recruiting technical staff to support local authorities.
Cabinet will also discuss a new report which will recommend a national target for completing probate and conveyancing within eight weeks.
The development is part of an effort to reduce costs and delays, and to make housing stock available faster than it is at present.
Taoiseach Simon Harris will bring a memo to Cabinet from the Expert Group on Probate and Conveyancing.
The group’s work was identified as necessary in the Housing For All action plan in order to reduce costs and delays.
The report will recommend a national target of eight weeks for both probate and conveyancing to be completed.
It will recommend more digitisation of processes, legal changes to remove outdated practices and a public awareness campaign to highlight new processes.
Strategy to improve education outcomes for Traveller and Roma people
Separately, the Government is to publish a six-year strategy to improve educational outcomes for Traveller and Roma young people.
Minister for Education Norma Foley will bring a memo to Cabinet on the issue.
It will say that while the number of Traveller and Roma young people completing Senior Cycle in schools has improved in recent years, their educational outcomes remain lower than the general population.
The strategy includes a target to significantly increase the numbers of Traveller and Roma young people remaining in school to sixth year and achieving a Leaving Certificate.
The strategy follows significant consultation with Traveller and Roma children, parents and representative groups.
Article Source – Regulator overseeing building construction to be set up – RTE
