asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider a public works programme, utilising direct labour, to make all public buildings accessible to handicapped citizens.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Handicapped Citizens.
2.
I have not in mind undertaking a direct labour programme on the lines suggested by this question. Responsibility for public buildings rests with various authorities, central, regional and local. In so far as the central authorities are concerned the Department of Finance and the Office of Public Works are the principal responsible bodies. It would be for the latter body to consider the Deputy's suggestions in the context of their existing procedures and programmes. I am informed that the Office of Public Works has a code of practice relating to access for the disabled in relation to buildings under their control. The code lays down that in designing new buildings or adapting existing buildings, suitable access for the disabled shall be provided wherever possible. The code covers the special problems that may arise, including standards of approaches to buildings, toilet facilities, and so on.
The provision of access for handicapped persons to public buildings under the control of regional and local authorities would be a matter for each authority concerned. In so far as local authorities are concerned, the Minister of State at my Department as a result of a motion discussed and passed unanimously in the Seanad on 8 November last, brought the general matter of the circulation and access of the handicapped to the attention of all city and county managers. He asked them to give a lead in so far as their own buildings, new or existing, were concerned and to have the matter also brought to the notice of all officials concerned with planning proposals affecting buildings to which the public had access.
Would the Minister not agree that the most effective instrument for which he had direct responsibility is the procedure of development plans and if the Department were serious about implementing the code to which he refers they could request and direct, as has been done in other areas, every local authority to make it a condition of planning permission as set out in a division of the development plan that all public buildings would have adequate provision for access for the disabled?
After the motion in the Seanad the Departments concerned, including the Department of Finance and the Office of Public Works, and all local authorities, were informed of the motion and asked to take this matter into consideration. Where planning was concerned their planning officers were also informed.
There is a variety of information documents, requests, and so on. Would the Minister not agree that, if he is serious about this matter, he has power to direct the local authorities to implement such provisions and such codes within the development plans and the revision of the development plans?
The local authorities have been asked to do so.
Have the Minister's Department any information about the extent to which the local authorities have complied with the request from his Department?
The motion was in the Seanad last November. After that, they were asked to comply with it.
When will the Minister be in a position to state to what extent the local authorities will comply with his request? Could he make it a point to have a report on this matter within the next three months, say?
Without putting a time limit on it, I can assure the Deputy I will try to get an up-to-date report as quickly as possible, and make it available.
Could I ask one final question with your permission, Sir?
We have had a number of questions.
The Minister referred to the code of practice. Could he indicate how many buildings under the responsibility of the Office of Public Works have been built in accordance with that code of practice?
That is surely a question for the Office of Public Works.
It should be in the Minister's brief. He quoted from it.
It is a matter of who answers the question and who has the informátion.
It is a matter of who writes the question.
Question No. 3.