Thousands put at risk by illegal gas installations

Up to 100,000 illegal and potentially deadly gas boilers have been installed by ‘cowboy’ operators in family homes over the past five years, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

“Some of these have the potential to kill and the market is awash with illegal operators which is driving legitimate operators out of business,” Jimmy Egan, the secretary of the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors Ireland (APCHI) told the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee.

Representatives from the association appeared before the committee to outline their concerns at what they say is lack of proper regulation of the industry.

APHCI chairman Seán Giffney said that every day, the association’s members witness illegal operators and little or nothing is being done to stop them.

He said there needs to be proactive solutions and if the industry is not properly regulated, thousands of people’s lives may be put at risk.

Mr Egan launched a broadside at the Commission for Energy Regulation which has responsibility for putting in place a comprehensive system of safety.

In June 2009, the CER set up the Register of Gas Installers Ireland whose remit is to regulate registered gas installers and to investigate complaints.

However, it is not responsible for investigating the work of illegal installers.

“Who takes responsibility for going out and proactively identifying illegal works and operators? In our opinion, the answer is no one,” said Mr Egan.

“In Northern Ireland, the inspector there will go out and actively look for illegal operators. He will call to their home. He will mark their cards. He will camp outside. He will do whatever has to be done.

APHCI has argued that the system of regulation in the Republic is not fit for purpose. In a survey of members earlier this month, 98% said they had no confidence in it.

By law, all gas boilers must be certified and a copy of the certificate returned to RGII within 10 days.

However, the association says 30,000 gas boilers are installed each year but only 12,000 certs are returned.

The APHCI has asked for an independent public inquiry into the operation of the safety system.

The commission’s energy safety director, Sheenagh Rooney, said it relies on the public to report rogue installers and said CER runs annual campaigns for people to service their boilers to prevent carbon monoxide.

A number of TDs also criticised CER and, in particular, the paucity of prosecutions of rogue installers it has instigated since it was established in 2009.

Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan said that “the fact of the matter are that there is a whole lot of work going on that is not regulated”.

Sinn Féin TD Michael Colreavy said there is something wrong when it is reported that there are 100,000 illegal boilers and only 45 prosecutions.

Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan said: “I am stunned that you are just relying on the public to ring up and complain.”