Building regulations - Consumers will welcome new controls

SO many people have had nightmare experiences during the course of building - or the purchase - of a house, that Environment Minister Dick Roche will be considered to have contributed enormously to the future protection of consumers’ rights in the area with his new bill.

Unfortunately, his Building Control Bill will have come too late for the too many victims of so-called professionals, but at least their activities will be curtailed in the future.

The new bill, which needs to be ushered into law promptly when the Dáil resumes after its extravagant six-weeks of Christmas holidays, will have to cover public buildings as well, because it imposes stricter enforcement of codes governing fire and disability access.