asked the Minister for the Environment if access for disabled persons has yet been provided at the Guinness hop store, Dublin; the total amount of money provided by the Exchequer for the conversion and refurbishment of these premises; if all local authorities and public bodies in receipt of public money have been issued with guidelines or regulations regarding access to buildings for disabled persons; and the procedures adopted to monitor compliance with these guidelines or regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Access to Buildings for Disabled Persons.
17.
I understand that the conversion work on the Guinness hop store is ongoing and, when completed, will include facilities for access and internal circulation by the disabled. I also understand that a grant amounting to £45,500 was provided by the Arts Council toward the cost of conversion of the building.
All local authorities and public bodies, including relevant professional and trade bodies, were circulated with the Draft Building Regulations and subsequently with the Proposed Building Regulation, Part S of which sets standards in relation to access for the disabled to and circulation within buildings, with a request that they regard them as having statutory backing. Local authorities were also circulated with the National Rehabilitation Board's booklet "Access for the Disabled — Minimum Design Criteria" and were asked to monitor compliance with the regulations.
Is the Minister aware that on a previous occasion when I raised the question of the Guinness hop store I was assured that, following the Rose exhibition——
We have cut out preamble speeches, Deputy.
I heard you say that yesterday, a Cheann Comhairle, but I heard quite a few preamble speeches on the monitor while I was waiting for the Minister to deal with this one. Is the Minister aware that I was given an undertaking on the previous occasion when I raised this question that, as soon as the Rosc exhibition was over the Guinness hop store would be provided with access facilities for the disabled and that now there is another exhibition in this centre which has had substantial public funds invested in it and it still has not got access facilities for the disabled?
I am calling Question No. 18.
I am awaiting a reply from the Minister.
I am not responsible for that. I am calling Question No. 18.
I answered the question.
Would the Minister respond to the question I asked: when can we expect that the Guinness hop store will provide access facilities for the disabled?
I said in my reply that I understand that a grant of £45,500 was provided by the Arts Council towards the cost of conversion of the building. That is all the information I have at present. I cannot say when this work will commence.
Do I take it that the Minister is ignoring my request for information on this matter?
I am not responsible for the Minister's reply, Deputy. I am busy enough trying to control questions.
In relation to Question No. 17, I asked what monitoring procedures the Minister's Department were engaged in to ensure that bodies who receive public funds comply with the building regulations. Might I have a reply to that question, please?
All bodies that receive money from my Department must comply with very rigid building requirements to account for the expenditure of moneys given to them by the Department for whatever purpose. I am sure the Deputy is well aware of that. Eventually the auditing division in my Department ensures that this compliance is adhered to. I am sure the Deputy is so aware from his position as a public representative and as a local government representative as well.
I am calling Question No. 18.
Is the Minister aware that there are at least three other galleries in this city that have received public funds and which do not have access facilities for the disabled?
That is another question. Will the Minister please answer Question No. 18?
That is a problem for the local authority of which the Deputy is a member.
Is the Minister prepared to ensure——
This question refers to a particular building and anything else is argument. I am calling Question No. 18.