asked the Minister for the Environment if he will state in respect of each of the last three years the funding that has been provided to the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards to establish a comprehensive fire testing facility which is needed to test building materials and components to the established public safety and building regulation requirements.

19.

asked the Minister for the Environment when it is intended to provide the funding required by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards to establish a comprehensive fire testing facility which is needed to test building materials and components to the established public safety and building regulation requirements.

20.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of Irish door manufacturers who can produce fire resistant doors and doorsets, tested and certified in this country to the established public safety and building regulation requirements.

21.

asked the Minister for the Environment the steps he intends to take to end the situation whereby all building materials manufactured in this country and requiring fire resistance certification have to be tested abroad.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 21, inclusive, together.

The funding of the IIRS is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism.

The IIRS, as well as its work on the preparation of suitable Irish standards, already provides some facilities for carrying out standard fire tests on construction products, including, for example, tests on furniture, fabrics and electrical components.

Following a feasibility study by the IIRS on its role in fire safety, discussions took place between officials of my Department, the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism and the IIRS on a range of matters, including the feasibility of establishing a fire testing facility at IIRS which would deal with all but large scale tests. This matter is still under consideration.

There are no Irish standards for fire resisting doorsets and the relevant British standards which are included in the draft building regulations are normally specified. A number of Irish door manufacturers produce fire resistant doors and doorsets which comply with those standards but I am not aware of the total number of such manufacturers.

Will the Minister accept that it is unsatisfactory that the IIRS are not in a position to test building components for fire resistance?

Discussions are taking place between my Department, the Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism and the IIRS on this. Hopefully a satisfactory conclusion will be reached shortly so that a proper facility can be provided.

When will this hope materialise?

I should like to assure the Deputy, and the House, that the matter will be dealt with as soon as I receive the report from the meetings that are taking place. I hope to get something moving quickly.

The Minister told us that there were no building regulations relating to building components and I should like to know if it is his intention to introduce such regulations to apply to doors and so on?

We have received a report from the IIRS in regard to these facilities and their comments will be taken into consideration.

When will a decision be made?

I am not in a position to say when a decision will be reached because discussions are taking place.

How long have the discussions been in progress? Have they been in progress for one year or two years? Will another year elapse before they conclude?

I should like to assure the Deputy that this matter will not go on for years. It will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Within months?

Yes. I am pursuing the matter myself.

Is the Minister aware that similar questions were asked in the House 12 months ago and we were given to understand that improvements would take place but nothing has been done? It is time the IIRS changed their methods and were in a position to carry out such tests. When safety frames for tractors were introduced they could not be tested here. Tractors and frames had to be sent to England for testing. It is time they did something in the IIRS.

As a result of the report from the IIRS we are examining the position. We are anxious to set up proper test procedures within the IIRS.

The Department have been aware of the position for 12 months and did not do anything about it.

I am pursuing the matter and I am hopeful we can bring it to a satisfactory conclusion quickly.