Register to curb rise in ‘cowboy’ builders

In a bid to combat the rise of black market operators, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has launched a register listing competent and legally compliant construction workers and companies.

Members of the public can access the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) free website to find construction companies, sole traders and builders operating in their region and who specialise in particular aspects of building.

CIF said the register covers 39 distinct categories of activity, “from house building to extensions, plastering to carpentry and plumbing to electrical contracting”.

To date, 201 companies and sole traders have listed themselves on the website. CIF said a further 565 were at various stages of the applications process and it expects there will be more than 2,000 entries listed on CIRI by the end of 2015.

By that stage, it is expected CIRI will have been placed on a statutory footing. To be listed on the register, all applicants must show they meet the following criteria:

-Demonstrate they have construction competence and experience;

-Adhere to an industry code of the ethics, obey all the latest building standards and regulations, and comply with health and safety regulations relating to the industry;

-Must be tax compliant;

-Commit to undertaking continuous professional development;

-Show they have the relevant insurance policies in place.

Furthermore, all those who wish to remain on the register must re-apply annually to ensure they continue to meet the criteria.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan said: “For too long we had a situation in this country whereby anyone can pass themselves off as a builder or construction operative, regardless of their experience and regardless of whether they were following the industry regulations. That is why I asked the CIF to work with my department in establishing CIRI.” Now we have a resource the public can use for free and which aims to separate those construction companies and builders who can meet the standards from those who don’t.”

CIF director general Tom Parlon said, until now, the names of everyone in the industry had been “tarnished” by those who did not follow the regulations and who did not carry out their work in the proper fashion.

The register is available on www.ciri.ie