A new register of builders has been set up by Construction Industry Regulation Ireland to crack down on cowboy builders.

In 2023, legislation was passed that invited people to register their companies with Construction Industry Regulation Ireland’s (CIRI) admissions and registration board.

This registration will become a statutory requirement at the end of 2025, and construction companies will be required by law to join the CIRI.

It will give the Register power to access sites, seize documents and enter homes of builders.

20,000 workers in the sector are expected to register.

The body is being introduced in response to a series of scandals in the sector including the building of homes with fire-safety defects.

Cost rental homes under construction in Dublin, 23-8-22. Image: PA Images / Alamy

The Construction Industry Federation director general Hubert Fitzpatrick told The Pat Kenny Show that companies will have to demonstrate their experience and competency to the board to get approval.

“They’ll be expected to outline a number of projects that they’ve built before in the past of that nature,” he said.

“So, if they wanted to build apartments they’d have to say, ‘Well look, here’s my competent team, and these are the projects that they have built in the past’.

“They’ll also have to produce their own tax clearance certificate, their own insurances and they’re going to have to be compliant with all the requirements moving forward.”

Compensation

However, consumers will not be able to seek recourse through the board if the service provider they employ fails to meet standards.

“You will have to pursue recourse in accordance with your contract with that builder,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“So, you’ll have a contract with the builder in respect of the works that were undertaken on your behalf and you must use the recourse provisions set out in the contract.

“The registration scheme is not a recourse in respect of compensation for some defective works that might arise in the future.”

'They're effectively out of business'

According to Mr Fitzpatrick, the threat of being banned from offering their services should deter most companies from committing any infractions.

“If they’re not registered for a particular division that’s set out in legislation, they cannot win those contracts, be it by a member of the public or indeed by the public sector or any procurement agency,” he said.

“The penalty here for a registered entity is that if they are thrown off the Register, they’re actually deprived of the right to go back out and offer services again – and so they’re effectively out of business.

“It is up to the public then to pursue the recourse provisions of their contract.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said this would bring the regulation of builders in line with that of other professions.

Featured image: File photo of a construction worker, © PA Wire/PA Images