1789. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that BCAR certification vis the BCMS will be required to avail of the new back garden homes exempted development category; and that only modular system providers with an NSAI agreement certificate will be deemed in compliance with building regulations. [60263/26]

The Building Regulations set minimum performance requirements for buildings, including dwellings, to ensure the safety, health and welfare of people. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of an auxiliary dwelling in the same manner as they apply to new dwellings. An auxiliary dwelling can be provided by means of on-site construction, using standardised construction methods, such as blockwork, or timber frame, etc. Alternatively, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), e.g. prefabricated panels (such as walls or roof panels) or modular buildings may be used for auxiliary dwellings. Modern Methods of Construction should be certified by NSAI Agrément.

Building Control Regulations set out administrative and control procedures, including statutory certification, to ensure compliance with Building Regulations. For the design and construction of an auxiliary dwelling, competent construction professionals and a competent builder are required, along with the relevant statutory certification, as set out in the Building Control Regulations.

Responsibility for compliance with these Regulations rests with the owners, designers and builders.

An Information Note on the Application of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations has been published to provide general information on how an auxiliary dwelling can comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations (Section 2) and Building Control Regulations (Section 3). It is available on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/application-of-the-building-regulations-and-the-building-control-regulations-to-auxiliary-dwellings/.