New Restrictions & How They affect RECI & Our Industry

Following the recent announcement from An Taoiseach (19th October), we wish to advise you that RECI is currently operating as normal. Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our staff, while ensuring that we continue to provide RECs & members of the public a high level of service. 

Information that matters to you as a REC:

  • Section 5c of essential services list under government guidelines includes: the supply and delivery of maintenance and repair services to businesses and places of residence (including electricalgas, plumbing, glazing and roofing services). 
  • Please ensure compliance with COVID-19 guidelines while carrying out your work 
  • The RECI office in KCR remains closed to RECs & members of the public.
  • If you wish to purchase certificates or pay for ECC Credit, please visit our website https://www.completioncerts.ie/
  • If you wish to purchase certificates over the phone, please call the hotline 01 499 7923. Orders can be collected during the normal collection hours (0900-1000hrs or 1500-1600hrs).

Please note that RECI do not provide letters to deem your Electrical Works as essential work, this is detailed in the essential services list under Construction work, Section 5c of the government essential services list. It is your discretion if you wish to carry out Electrical Works now.

We have taken the necessary measures to minimise the disruption to our service.  At RECI, we are actively monitoring developments and are implementing changes regularly to ensure a high level of responsiveness to RECs and members of the public.

The Resilience and Recovery 2020/2021 – Plan for Living with Covid-19 issued by the Department of the Taoiseach outlines the 5-level framework for restrictive measures. Please see below extract relating to electrical works in Level 5.

From   Department of the Taoiseach

Published at 14 October 2020

Last updated 20 October 2020

This list applies for Level 5 only.

Physical attendance at workplaces is only permitted for those providing the following services where such services can only be provided in person and cannot be delivered remotely. It does not include administrative and other support for such businesses and services unless specified in section 13 and the physical presence of a worker is required.


Construction and development

The following services relating to construction and development:

  • construction or development work and the provision of support services relating to construction and development work
  • the repair, maintenance and construction of road, rail and utility infrastructure
  • the supply and delivery of maintenance and repair services to businesses and places of residence (including electrical, gas, plumbing, glazing and roofing services) on an emergency call-out basis

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris provided further clarification for our industry.

15 October 2020 – Minister Harris says tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians can work in your home despite new restrictions

  • Tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians can still visit a person’s home to work, despite the new restrictions advising no visitors are allowed in another household.
  • Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris clarified the position in this regard on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne this morning, and said people still need to take precautions if there are workers in their home. 
  • He said: “I really want to put this to bed because I’m getting a lot of questions on that too. So, if you’re a plumber or an electrician or builder or a painter, you’re going to work.
  • “And if you’re doing the job and someone says you’re going to work in their home – yes, you’re allowed. And that was allowed in the past.