Vol. 456 No. 5
100 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Justice the manner in which building projects undertaken by her Department take into account the needs of people with disabilities as indicated in her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of Tuesday, 23 May 1995. [14206/95]
The Deputy will appreciate that my Department is engaged in a sizeable number of new and reconstruction projects involved in the Garda, prisons, courts and my Department's building programmes. In this context, in any new building project being undertaken by my Department, or by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department, the Office of Public Works or Consultant Architect responsible for planning the project would recommend what facilities were appropriate to be included in the project to cater for the needs of people with disabilities.
I understand that the type of facilities involved would include: improved access to the building including ramps and handrails — toilet facilities for the disabled — access lifts (where possible).
I also understand that, where possible, induction loops are being installed in courthouses to facilitate persons with a hearing disability.
