Recently it was reported that the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) were confronting 200 illicit architects who never obtained any recognized architecture qualification and 100 more who are qualified but have not obtained registration. Believe it or not, Ireland has just started to aggressively protect the title of architect as of late 2009, enforcing the Building Control Act 2007.
John Graby RIAI director explained that, “Before the new law, anyone could call themselves an architect and the change happened at a time when the bottom was falling out of the construction industry. It’s taking time for people to realise it’s important that they have qualifications and have signed a code of conduct. The cost of registration – which can be as much as €1,200 – is likely to be discouraging people from complying with the law.”
