Paul McNeive: We’re spending €5bn to fix shoddy buildings but just €15m on prevention

The entire system of building control is recovering from the disastrous abandoning of constant inspection by local authorities. Photo: Getty

Paul McNeive

Kevin Hollingsworth, the newly elected President of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, was out of the blocks quicker than Rhasidat Adeleke, with a compelling argument for increasing the level of building inspections by local authorities. I spoke with Mr Hollingsworth to hear more about this, and concerns regarding building components which are manufactured “off-site”.

Mr Hollingsworth highlights that many local authorities are barely meeting a very low target of inspecting 12pc of new buildings. Mayo and Sligo failed to meet even that level in 2022, but Meath and Kildare are sending building control officers to well in excess of the minimum level. In Dublin, over 80pc of developments are inspected.