Housing extensions and one-off homes may be exempt from tough new building regulations aimed at preventing shoddy work, under proposals being considered by the Government.

The Irish Independent reports that the Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly, is devising a radical plan amid concerns that householders are paying up to €16,000 to have their homes inspected.

The government may change the regulations from "mandatory" to "advisory."

The move would result in almost half of all homes built in a given year being exempt from the rules.

However, there are fears that if the changes are made, it will also result in buyers of these one-off homes being given no protection whatsoever.