Heating, water and broadband – some of the exceptions to construction rules

REGULATIONS in times of a pandemic are fraught with the possibility of interpretation in different ways by different people, and the area of construction is no different.

On a wider scale, construction ceased at 6pm on Friday, January 8.

However, there were a few limited exceptions which included essential health and related projects; social housing projects; repair, maintenance and construction of critical transport and utility infrastructure and education facilities sites.

Also allowed was supply and delivery of essential or emergency maintenance and repair services to businesses and places of residence. This included electrical, gas, plumbing, glazing and roofing services – on an emergency call-out basis. Construction projects in the exporting/FDI sector were also allowed, based on set criteria.

But on a local level there are thousands of people who were carrying out works on their existing homes, or building a new home or extension, when lockdown three occurred, and this has led to grey areas, where it is difficult to agree what is ‘essential’ and what is ‘nonessential’.

“In relation to private homes that were practically complete and scheduled for habitation by January 31, 2021, including where snagging, and essential remediation work, such as pyrite works was nearing completion, works were permitted to continue to enable homeowners access their homes by that date,” said a Housing Department spokesman.

“Heating, water, broadband and electricity installation should also continue to enable homes be occupied. There is not a case-by-case mechanism for signing off on what is essential refurbishment.

“Individuals should assess whether their work falls into the category and are satisfied that they are in compliance with the regulations before proceeding, but be aware they may of course be subject to potential inspections by authorities.”

The Construction Industry Federation said more than 60,000 construction employees were now on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and thousands of construction jobs were permanently threatened.

It said that since January 4, the industry had been operating at about 40pc capacity.