Confirmation of revised building regulations imminent – Daly

Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Jim Daly, has received confirmation from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, that he will clarify any measures to be applied to the Building Control Regulations in the coming weeks. Minister Kelly also confirmed to Deputy Daly that local councils will be given powers to reduce development charges on existing planning permissions to make them more viable to go to construction.

“It has been confirmed to me by Minister Kelly that the Government will enable developers to avail of reduced development contributions for existing planning permissions that have yet to be activated. This move will significantly assist with the construction of new developments in both the residential and commercial markets.

“It has come to my attention recently that many people building their own homes had postponed their plans to start construction of these new homes pending the revised regulations by Minister Kelly. This stalling of the building of one off houses has left many tradespeople across rural Ireland without work as the revised regulations are awaited.

“I am delighted that the Minister will publish the revised regulations for once and for all in the coming weeks and I expect there will be a relaxing of the new rules introduced last year which many commentators described as ‘the pendulum swinging too far’.  

“It is important that certainty and clarity is provided in relation to any issue that may negatively affect the economic recovery. I expect that the construction industry, particularly in rural Ireland, will receive a modest but welcome boost when the new measures are announced by the Minister.”