Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 3

Written Answers. - Public Access for People with Disabilities.

Ivan Yates

Question:

212 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself with the implementation of the relevant sections of the building regulations to ensure disabled persons have access to public buildings; and the steps, if any, he will take to ensure these are more effectively enforced. [2871/00]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

230 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the way in which he will ensure the proper implementation of section M of the building regulations to ensure disabled people have access to public buildings. [2503/00]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

231 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has for the implementation of section M of the building regulations to ensure that disabled people have access to public buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2628/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 230 and 231 together.

Part M of the building regulations, which have been in effect since 1 June 1992, places a duty on persons constructing or extending public buildings to provide access for people with disabilities. Compliance with the regulations is primarily a matter for the designers, builders and owners of the buildings involved.

Local building control authorities are statutorily responsible for enforcement of the regulations. Since my appointment as Minister in 1997, I have been urging local authorities to more actively enforce all parts of the building regulations, including Part M. In particular, Circular Letter BC 7/99 on 17 June 1999 specifically called for stricter enforcement of Part M. I understand that 35 out of 37 authorities have now appointed officers; and the balance are in the process of making such appointments. I have also increased building control fees to provide local authorities with additional revenue to fund better enforcement.

In July 1999 I issued a consultation document on my proposal to require all new dwellings commencing on or after 1 July 2000 to be accessible to disabled visitors. At the same time, I indicated that the whole of Part M was being thrown open for review and amendment. I intend to publish the revised and improved Part M within the next three months, following consideration of a wide range of comments received and having consulted with the building regulations advisory body. When the definitive Part M measures are published, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, in co-operation with my Department, will be holding a series of regional seminars throughout the country dealing with the revised Technical Guidance Document M.

In my foreword to the consultation document on Part M, I summed up my own views on the enforcement of Part M as follows:

I hope that Part M, when amended and vigorously enforced, will deliver greatly improved accessibility to all our citizens including people with disabilities, in the new millennium and not before its time.

Ivan Yates

Question:

213 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department has monitored the number of local authorities which have disabled persons access committees; if so, the numbers which have established these committees; and the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that all local authorities will establish these committees. [2870/00]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

232 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of county council and county borough councils which have appointed access officers and access committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 232 together.

Access officers have been appointed in each county council and county borough council. Each access officer is assigned the function of co-ordinating and promoting access activities in his/her local authority manager's area. The manner in which this role is carried out is a matter for each individual local authority and my Department does not have any information on the number of access committees established in the local authorities.