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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Fire safety and building standards

Summary

Eoin Ó Broin cited reports of overturned fire-safety planning conditions and inadequate fire safety in apartment developments, calling for the promised review of building standards. The Tánaiste said he would ask the Minister to respond directly because the issue involved many technical matters.

Five Deputies remain. We will get everyone in, if they are brief. I call Deputy Ó Broin.

Comment on this

Page 28 of A Programme for a Partnership Government features a commitment to a State-wide review of building standards and improving fire safety standards. It was worrying to read in a report by Barry Whyte in The Sunday Business Post this weekend that 75% of Dublin Fire Brigade planning conditions have been overturned or significantly changed on appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Equally worrying was an article by Jack Horgan-Jones in The Irish Times yesterday highlighting a report which shows that approximately 60 apartment developments owned by one management company in Dublin have inadequate fire alarm systems and a lack of fire stopping. Will the Minister commit to conducting this review and updating the fire safety regulations as a matter of urgency? Will he also seriously consider a latent defects redress scheme and a risk audit of Celtic tiger-era developments?

Comment on this
Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I have a long note on this matter that I will not have time to read into the record. I will ask the Minister to respond directly to Deputy Ó Broin. There are many technical issues linked to this matter.

Comment on this