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Architects' Alliance of Ireland

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Architects' Alliance of Ireland (AAoI) [1] was formed at the start of 2009 in response to Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007[2]. The founders as declared by the association were Leonard Barrett (Midleton), Liam Hazel (Skibbereen), Brian Montaut (Bray) and Adrian Turner (Athlone). Architects' Alliance of Ireland declares representing established self-trained architects who are disenfranchised by the actual legislation governing the registration of architects in the Republic of Ireland. [3]

The group is lobbying for an amendment of the legislation, for the inclusion of a grandfather clause[4][5]. Most countries, when first implementing the registration of architects, have included a grandfather clause in their legislation[6], but the Republic of Ireland did not. The actual legislation states that practitioners with a minimum of 7 years of experience but without recognised formal qualification must be assessed through an examination to continue practicing in the State. Architects' Alliance of Ireland considers the examination as inappropriate and severely exclusionary. The current system allows members of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland to be automatically registered. Architects' Alliance of Ireland wants a grandfather clause to be included in the Act for an automatic registration of self-trained professionals who have practiced as architects during a minimum of 7 years within the Republic of Ireland.

The group claims to have identified inconsistencies within the actual legislation and its implementation, complaints were made to the Irish Government and to the European Commission.

The lobbying efforts of Architects' Alliance of Ireland gained the support of John O'Donoghue TD who has tabled The Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2010[7]. The bill awaits its second reading and proposes the inclusion of a grandfather clause within the legislation.

Critics and oppositions

AAoI is sometimes perceived as a group trying to undermine the registration procedure; a group that so called "cowboys" and rough builders have infiltrated.

The Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2010, supported by AAoI is also opposed by the RIAI. The RIAI position is that the proposed legislation, if enacted, would be in breach of EU law. [8] The Institute organised political lobbying against the Bill. It has offered CPD points to its members for this purpose and distributes non-headed documents to facilitate canvassing.[9] The documents state that the proposed amendment damages Irish architects and Irish architecture, that it undermines consumers protection, that it disadvantages younger architectural graduates. The documents also list some alleged misinformation about the register.

The situation of self-taught architects for registration in the Republic of Ireland

The position of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is that:" The Building Control Act marks a key shift in widening access to the profession by introducing access to those who have not pursued the standard higher education route. There is a registered admission examination and technical assessment. Up to 1966, entry to the architecture profession could be gained through the RIAI examination system but there has been a general shift towards formal qualifications. The pendulum has swung back to some degree with the shift to an outcomes-based assessment in higher education and away from the input model. The Building Control Act has both models, input from qualifications and output based on the assessment obtained without formal education."[10]

AAoI is concerned about the RIAI having a monopoly on architecture in the Republic of Ireland.[11] The RIAI set up a registration system, which is claimed to have favoured its members while discriminating the others, especially self-taught.[12]

The cost for the Irish Prescribed Register Examination called ARAE[13] for self-trained architects is €11,500 + €2,000 (seminars) instead of €3,500 in The Netherlands. Compared to similar examinations in other professions and countries, the ARAE is perceived as unaffordable, unpractical and inappropriate.[14]

The so called "Technical Assessment" is an examination for self-trained architects with more than 10 years of experience prior to the enforcement of architects’ registration. Architects’ Alliance of Ireland claims that the fees are inappropriate (€6,500)[15] and that the RIAI is manipulating the procedure by setting up academic and administrative standards that do not reflect the practice of architecture before the implementation of registration.

The RIAI is accused of misleading the public about legislative issues concerning the provision of architectural services and about registration cost.[16] One of the most representative example is an article written by John Burke and published in the Sunday Business Post, where the author appears to have been fully misinformed when declaring: “The RIAI is to write to each of the 300 people trading illegally, advising them that it is a criminal offence to practise as an architect without completing the registration process, which was introduced in 2009 under the Building Control Act 2007.”[17] The RIAI frequently omits to inform the press and members of the public that it is not an offence and that it is legal to propose architectural services without being registered with the RIAI. Many of the so-called “Non-registered architects” have denunciated the regulator’s attitude consisting of undermining and criticising architectural services provided by professionals such as engineers, surveyors, technologists or self-trained professionals. The author of the article published on the 30th January 2011 was also misled on the registration cost. On this subject John Burke wrote: “Sources working in the profession said that the cost of registration, which may be as much as €1,200, and the major decline in contracted work, may have led to many architects opting to remain unregistered. “ Despite his contact with the RIAI and despite his apparent conversation with the Registrar, it seems that John Burke was never informed about the real cost of registration, which can sometimes reach a total of €14,700.[18]

A grandfather clause, as provided in the French legislation and in many other countries, would solve the conflict as it stands today. It would have a very limited impact for the future of Irish architecture, if we consider that self-taught established architects now in practice, should be retired within the next 30 years.

The Future of Architects' Alliance of Ireland

The number of individuals and practices joinning the association has grown from a dozen of persons to more than one hundred today. Some registered architects and many enginers, technicians or surveyors are also supporting the cause of AAoI. The association claims "protecting diversity and promoting choice in Irish Architecture", it also claims "promoting and protecting the provision of architectural services in Ireland". It appears that some of the members have suggested that Architect's Alliance of Ireland should develop into a professional representative body.[19]

See also

Professional requirements for architects

List of Ireland-related topics

Autodidacticism

References

  1. ^ Architects' Alliance of Ireland web site
  2. ^ The Building Control Act 2007, Irish Legislation
  3. ^ reference from Architects' Alliance of Ireland web site
  4. ^ Article in the Law Society Gazette (April 2010)
  5. ^ Call for 'grandfather clause' in legislation for architects' register The Irish Times - Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
  6. ^ Architects (Registration) Act 1931 (UK); Loi du 20 fevrier 1939 (Architects Act in Belgium); legge 24 june 1923 No. 1395 (Architects Act in Italy); Loi n°77-2 du 3 janvier 1977 sur l'architecture (Architects Act in France)
  7. ^ The Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2010
  8. ^ "AG counsels caution on architect registration" published in the Sunday Business Post -20 February 2011
  9. ^ What is wrong with the proposed amendment? as published on RIAI website
  10. ^ This is a quote from the RIAI director during the Joint Committee on the Environment. It can be verified in the Videos or in the Minutes of Dail Committee Meeting.
  11. ^ "Registration of Architects: Discussion". Joint Committee Environmental Matters. Houses of the Oireachtas. 18. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Deputy Phil Hogan: There is a perception that the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland is operating a closed shop and an exclusive club because of the registration fees and the technical examination methodology it uses {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ The Registration of Architects - Minutes of Dail Committee Meeting
  13. ^ ARAE Architects Register Admission Examination web site
  14. ^ "Registration of Architects: Discussion". Joint Committee Environmental Matters. Houses of the Oireachtas. 18 May 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Vice Chairman Pádraic McCormack: Witnesses will see that the committee is struggling to come to a conclusion that will solve this problem. Can they tell me why the RIAI fees are so excessive?
  15. ^ Refer to the RIAI website for more information on the examination and its cost
  16. ^ Videos from the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
  17. ^ "Audit discovers hundreds of illegal architects" by John Burke, The Sunday Business Post, 30/01/2011
  18. ^ ARAE cost €13,500 (€11,500 exam + €2,000 seminars) + fees charged by the RIAI €1,200 = Total cost of €14,700
  19. ^ Refer to AAoI website for more information

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