The Construction Industry Register (CIRI) is the national authority regulating construction employers in Ireland. The institution is legally recognized by the Irish government and it can assist construction businesses set up in this country. The Register provides important guidelines for Irish construction companies and also aids them in obtaining public sector procurement contracts. Our team of consultants in Irish company formation can assist businessmen in opening this type of business here and may also provide information on how to register with the CIRI.

The Register has undergone massive change at the beginning of 2014 and now provides an interface for companies and sole traders that want to register with the CIRI so they can be easily recognized. Local companies can register with the institution, but in order to do so, specific conditions have to be met. Some of the most common conditions are the following:

• complete an induction training course in the field of construction;
• have three years of experience in the construction industry;
• must comply with all the tax regulations prescribed by the Irish national law;
• the company must enroll in continuous professional development (CPD);
• the company must also comply with all the health and safety regulations.

If you wish to set up a company in Ireland, you must go through several stages. The first is making sure you have all the documents in place. Secondly, you must ensure you have a legal address in Ireland, as this is a mandatory condition for opening a business here. From this point of view, we can supply you with various virtual office options.

Construction regulations in Ireland

Considering the risks a construction site implies and the importance of a construction project no matter what it is intended for, Ireland has amended its Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations in 2013. The new Construction Regulations is divided in several chapters emphasizing the importance of all parties involved in the development of a project, as it follows: the clients’ responsibilities, the designers’ responsibilities and the contractors’ duties. For complete information about the new provisions added to the Construction Regulations you may rely on our specialists in company registration in Ireland.

What is the current state of the Irish construction sector?

Businessmen who want to open a company in Ireland in the construction industry should know that the country can provide relevant growth opportunities, considering that the sector is expected to expand in the following years. For example, the estimates for the current year are showing that the construction sector may increase by 20% compared to the previous year.

This was evidenced in a study which was addressed to businesses in the field, which have expressed a positive attitude towards the construction industry. One of the key findings of the study revealed that the construction sector will expand in the construction of houses; other important aspects are presented below:

• the construction sector began to expand in Ireland in 2015;
• at the level of 2018, the sector increased above the estimates (14%), reaching 17,6%;
• in 2018, the total value of the Irish construction industry accounted for EUR 20 billion;
• the sector is expected to create 112,000 jobs no later than 2020;
• the construction sector in Ireland is expected to have one of the highest contributions to the country’s gross domestic product, reaching 10%.

The development of the sector is partly generated by the current governmental programs related to the construction field, such as the Rebuilding Ireland Strategy. Due to these investment programs created for the development of the construction sector and the Irish infrastructure, local and foreign businesses operating in this sector are currently interested in hiring more workers than usual.

What is the legislation available for Irish construction companies?

As presented above, one of the main rules of law applicable to construction companies is the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations. However, besides this, other rules of law apply to construction businesses; for example, all businesses must apply for various types of certifications, depending on the specific types of activities that they will develop here.

This is prescribed under the Building Control Regulations 2014. This rule of law prescribes the types of certificates and permits that can be imposed to construction projects or to parts of a construction project. In the case in which an Irish construction company needs a certification in this sense, it must apply for the respective document prior to commencing the operations on the site; the necessary document will be issued in a period of 14-28 days before the activities will start.

Construction companies in Ireland working as the contractors of a construction project are required to respect a set of rules regarding the safety and health measures they must assure for their employees. Thus, any contractor in Ireland must appoint a project supervisor, who will be responsible for specific stages of the construction project.

The company operating as a contractor in Ireland must also file notifications with the Health and Safety Authority, if necessary. Other procedures must also be respected by construction companies in Ireland, depending on their activities; our team of consultants in company registration in Ireland can further advise on other rules of law available for this field of activity.

What types of workers need an Irish license?

When operating in the construction industry in Ireland, businesses must obtain a wide range of business permits and licenses from the relevant authorities. However, specific categories of workers or persons who are involved in a construction project must also be the owners of certain types of permits. Although construction workers do not need a permit to develop their activities, other types of employees are legally required to be licensed in their field of expertise.

This is available in the case of architects and other types of consultants that may be needed in a construction project. An architect offering consultancy services to a construction company has to be licensed by the Royal Institute of the Architects in Ireland. Additional licenses are requested when referring to the auction of a property or to its sale.

Manufacturing construction materials in Ireland

When setting up a construction company in Ireland the first step is to draft the articles of association and together with all the other relevant documentation, submit them with the Trade Register. Once the company is registered and all the necessary permits have been issued, one must select the correct NACE code for manufacturing construction materials.

The NACE codes for construction operations in Ireland can be found under the Section D – Subsection DI. The main codes available in this case are the following: 26.5 for manufacturing cement, lime and plaster, 26.6 for manufacturing of articles of concrete, plaster and cement and 26.7 for cutting, shaping and finishing stone.

Companies that are involved in the manufacturing of basic metals and products based on metal have to select the NACE codes stipulated under the Subsection DJ. Our team of consultants in company formation in Ireland can advise on the full list of NACE codes available for construction companies; investors are invited to contact our specialists for complete assistance for the registration on this type of business.

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Paul Sheridan is one of our company formation specialists. He can help you establish your company in Ireland fast and easy.

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Articles

Opening a Construction Company in Ireland

The Construction Industry Register in Ireland

Construction regulations in Ireland

What is the current state of the Irish construction sector?

What is the legislation available for Irish construction companies?

What types of workers need an Irish license?

Manufacturing construction materials in Ireland

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