The National Consumer Agency has begun a study of the home building industry with the aim of providing greater protection for house-buyers and people extending their homes.
The agency has asked consumers and relevant organisations to submit their views for the study, which is likely to make proposals, legislative and non-legislative, for reform in the area.
"Buying or renovating your home is a massive undertaking and given the costs and complexity, we want to evaluate the consumer's experience when purchasing a home or when engaging in construction, maintenance and renovations," NCA chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said.
"We hope the study will provide an overview of the industry and related services from a consumer perspective, identify issues of concern and assess the adequacy of existing forms of consumer protection."
Among the areas the study will cover are the quality of information available to consumers; legal, contractual and insurance matters; building regulations; the planning process, including enforcement and compliance; hiring professional services and contractors; quality control and assurance in the building sector; and snagging, post-sale guarantees, remedies and redress.
International standards will also be examined to see how Irish conditions compare. Submissions are invited by November 16th to construction@nca.ie or by post to NCA, 4 Harcourt Road, Dublin 2.
