Dáil | Architectural Technologist update
By Bregs Blog on 20th November 2014. Blog notes [ ].
On November 18th Minister Alan Kelly in the Dáil discusses issues surrounding Architectural Technologists continued exclusion from duties associated with BC(A)R SI.9 (see link to Dáil transcript here). Both the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) "…have recently agreed to the development through Quality Qualifications Ireland structures of an agreed common standard for Architectural Technologist in line with the National Qualifications Framework".
We have discussed the CIAT register previously in our post CIAT Architectural Technologists Register goes live today!
One might well inquire as to where the status of the Architectural Technologists and the already established RIAI register is at. Are Architectural Technologists soon to be allowed in?
Out of 7 recent Board resignations from RIAI council in the past month, one was the Architectural Technologist Council representative, who resigned on 22nd October. This was hot on the heels of another senior Architectural Technologist resignation from the Architectural Technologists Committee (and from RIAI entirely) in September. Excluding architect board members and ex-presidents that's two senior Architectural Technologists in two months.
" To lose one… may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness".
The current situation regarding registration in general appears to be far from satisfactory for many Architectural Technologists.
We believe numbers of RIAI Architectural Technologist members has declined sharply. The lifeblood of any representative organisation is members, and a reduction in numbers, for whatever reason, should be given very careful examination.
Transcript from Building Regulations Compliance: 18 Nov 2014:
Dáil Written answers, Tuesday, 18 November 2014
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Building Regulations Compliance
Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
519. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the new regulations introduced in March 2014 that apply to architectural technologists; the way he expects architectural technologists to operate considering the extra costs now involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44212/14]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 9 of 2014), which came into operation on 1 March 2014, greatly strengthen the arrangements in place for the control of building activity by requiring greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certificates of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspection during construction and validation and registration of statutory certificates. The statutory certificates of compliance must be signed by a registered professional, i.e. a person who is included on the statutory registers of architects or building surveyors established in accordance with the Building Control Act 2007, or who is a Chartered Engineer. These are the construction professions typically involved in the design of construction works in Ireland and reference to these professions in regulation is entirely appropriate.
Architectural Technology is not currently classed as a regulated profession in Ireland which means that there is no designated competent authority which has the power to approve or restrict access to the profession in Ireland under national or EU law. That said, I am aware of the valuable contribution to the construction industry that is made by architectural technologists and I welcome and support the recent moves made by both the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) to put this important discipline on a professional footing. Both bodies have recently agreed to the development through Quality Qualifications Ireland structures of an agreed common standard for Architectural Technologist in line with the National Qualifications Framework.
The regulation of professions is in the first instance a matter for industry representatives working in concert with relevant industry stakeholders. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department, have any role in the assessment or validation of professional qualifications. Nevertheless, where robust arrangements for the regulation of key disciplines such as that of Architectural Technologist can be achieved, in a manner capable of serving the public interest for quality and safety in the built environment at a reasonable economic cost to consumers, I would be happy to sponsor legislation to place such arrangements on a statutory footing.
It is also worth noting that, depending on their personal background and experience, it may be open to persons who are Architectural Technologists, and who possess the requisite experience and competence in the design of buildings, to seek inclusion on either of the statutory registers in respect of Architects or Building Surveyors. A number of Architectural Technologists have already succeeded in gaining inclusion on the statutory registers to date and are thus in a position to avail of the many opportunities to act as Design Certifier and Assigned Certifier that will continue to arise as a consequence of SI No. 9 of 2014."
CIAT Architectural Technologists Register goes live today!
Architectural Technologists: Are you on the right bus?
Dáil: CIAT & RIAI- 2 Architectural Technologist Registers
UPDATE- CIAT Register for Architectural Technologists in Ireland
Architectural Technologists and BC(A)R SI.9: CIAT
Hot topic: Architectural Technologists and SI.9
Architectural Technologist – Platitudes, Head Nodding and BC(A)R SI.9.
RIAI NEWS ALERT: Architectural Technologist Register
Message from Mick Wallace TD to Architectural Technologists
Audio Clip: Dáil Debate 27th May- Architectural Technologists & SI.9
2 Comments to "Dáil | Architectural Technologist update"
CK Architecture says:
This article omits to state that the CIAT has also created a register http://architecturaltechnologistregister.ie/ and that the decline of registration with the RIAI is caused by the RIAI failures to represent the interests of technologists. The fact is that CIAT membership has raised during the last years. CIAT is asking for Architectural technologists to act has assigned certifiers and designers, while the RIAI is not. CIAT has been doing all the work to defend the interest of Architectural Technologists in Ireland while the RIAI is doing its best to keep Architectural Technologists as a sub-profession.
Astepho says:
Unlike architecture, building surveying is not a regulated profession in Ireland (http://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Qualifications-Recognition/mrpq_ca_contact_list.pdf) and yet registration of title was incorporated in the Building Control Act 2007, and subsequently listed as one of the 3 professions eligible to act as DC/AC in SI9.
Have QQI or NQAI ever published a framework for Building Surveyors?
Why are architectural technologists being subjected to a different set of rules now?