To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail his Department’s plans to update the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 in line with the Building Safety Act 2022.

As part of the reorganisation from twelve to nine government departments in 2016 a Transfer of Functions Order was made and, as part of this, the Defective Premises (NI) Order 1975 was orphaned and incorrectly allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

As background, the Order was originally within the remit of the former Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning. Upon the dissolution of that department in 1976 its functions transferred to the newly created Department of the Environment (DoE) where the 1975 Order remained until it was subsequently transferred to Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs by way of the 2016 Transfer of Functions Order.

It would be my view that this ought to rest with the Department for Communities where other related matters already reside.

I have made representations to the Communities Minister to this effect, requesting transfer occurs as part of any forthcoming fresh transfer of functions order. I await the Minister’s reply.