The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2021, in order to ensure the safety of people in and about buildings.
The legislative framework of the building control system comprises three parts:-
More information on the building control system can be found on gov.ie - Building standards (www.gov.ie)
Under current legislation, the Building Control Authority has discretionary powers. These include the following:-
- The right to inspect works to which the Building Regulations apply
- The right to request information relating to works to which Building Regulations apply
- Power of enforcement in relation to non-compliance with the Building Regulations
- Power to prosecute for non-compliance, either by summary or High Court proceedings
It should be noted that the power of inspection granted to building control authorities under the legislation is discretionary and does not impose an obligation to inspect. The primary responsibility for compliance with regulations rests with the designers, builders and building owners.