Pictured above is Jennifer Mills of the NBCMSO promoting compliance at the National Ploughing Championships
Commercial partnership
The construction industry in Ireland is evolving, and women are increasingly shaping its direction at every level.
A strong example of this can be seen at the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office (NBCMSO), a Local Authority shared service, hosted by Dublin City Council and operating nationwide as the oversight body supporting the 31 local authorities in the implementation of Building Control Regulations and the Market Surveillance of Construction Products.
At its forefront are three accomplished women whose expertise and leadership continue to strengthen confidence in Ireland’s building control system.
Mairéad Phelan, Head of the NBCMSO, provides strategic direction and national coordination, ensuring consistent and effective oversight across all local authorities.
Supporting this work are Jennifer Mills, Senior Executive Professional, and Beatriz Gilli, Executive Professional, whose technical knowledge and commitment underpin the Office’s day-to-day operations and engagement with stakeholders.
Their collective leadership highlights the vital contribution women make to construction regulation, governance and innovation. By combining technical excellence with collaborative leadership, they help ensure that regulatory frameworks remain robust, responsive and fit for purpose.
Mairéad Phelan presenting at the recent NBCMSO CPD event in December 2025
The work of the NBCMSO stands as a clear example of how women in construction are not only participating in the industry but actively leading it forward.
To achieve a compliant construction culture the office manages the national online building control management System (BCMS) for the administration of commencement notices, certificates of compliance on completion and applications for fire safety certificates and disability access certificates relating to buildings and works in Ireland.
The BCMS data is used in conjunction with continuous collaboration with the 31 local building control/market surveillance authorities, builders, designers, and certifiers, to inform an extensive blended Continuing Professional Development (CPD)/Education and Training programme.
This programme is designed and delivered through collaboration with the professions (SCSI, EI, RIAI), the Construction Industry Council, the Local Authority Services National Training Group, the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Academic Institutions (SETU Carlow and SETU Waterford, ATU).
Learning opportunities
The office is very proud of the SETU Carlow, Level 7, 10 credit, Certificate in Building Control Management which is now recognised as the minimum standard in building control.
The course provides learners with the up-to-date requirements in building control legislation, building regulations, inspections, enforcement, including the day-to-day management of compliance challenges to prevent defects.
Over 350 students from a mixture public and private sector, large and small house builders, trades, architects, technologists, engineers, surveyors, etc. have completed the certificate.
The SETU Waterford: Master of Science in Building Regulatory Compliance is another highly recommended learning opportunity developed with Dr Derek Sinnott, Department of Architecture and Built Environment.
This course is designed for those working in/regulators in the environment, fire, planning, construction, housing, market surveillance and materials space to develop the skills to make incisive decisions through an explicit and systematic understanding of the ethical, political, social, cultural, economic, technological, environmental, legal, and organisational factors in relation to Construction, Building Control and Regulatory Compliance.
For more go to www.nbco.localgov.ie
