1756. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing a mandatory licensing system for domestic building contractors, including verification of identity, beneficial ownership, insurance, qualifications and previous trading names, in order to protect homeowners from fraud and repeat offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61221/26]

1757. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the full commencement of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works Act 2022; whether he intends to make registration mandatory for all contractors undertaking domestic building work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61222/26]

1758. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the introduction of statutory controls on deposits and advance payments for domestic building work, including mandatory insurance-backed guarantees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61224/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1756 to 1758, inclusive, together. A statutory register for construction in Ireland is being established in line with the requirements of the www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/15/enacted/en/html.

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) was appointed in January 2023 as the statutory registration body for the register, which will be known as Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI).

The main objective of the Act is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the Building Regulations in the construction sector. This will benefit consumers and the general public.

Registration will require the mandatory information in line with Part 4 of the Act including names, contact details, relevant division of registration, competent person, details of relevant convictions or sanctions, enforcement notices and order of high court as per the Building Control Act and any other information the registration body considers appropriate.

A registered provider of building works must maintain at least the minimum levels of public and employer's liability insurance set by the registration body, considering the risks associated with the type of building work relevant to the division in line with Section 43 of the Act.

My Department is working on regulations to give full effect to the Act. Commencement of initial divisions are expected in early 2027.

Service contracts for the construction, maintenance or repair of existing buildings fall in the scope of Consumer Rights Act 2022 under the remit of the Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment.