Vol. 503 No. 6
204 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the needs of people with disabilities who need accessible houses are to be integrated with changes being proposed by his Department to deal with the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10961/99]
The recent commitment to amend the national building regulations to require new houses starting on or after 1 January 2000 to be visitable by people with disabilities represents a major step towards the principle of lifetime adaptable housing and towards meeting the needs of people with disabilities. The new measures will facilitate not only disabled visitors but residents in the new dwellings who may become temporarily or permanently mobility impaired during their lifetime – through illness, accident or old age.
In addition, I envisage increased provision to meet the needs of people with disabilities in a greatly expanded social housing programme, both in terms of local authority and voluntary housing, in the coming years.
