Vol. 534 No. 5
156 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there are any plans to make grants available to help business people make alterations to their shops for the benefit of disabled people. [11297/01]
I have no plans to introduce grants along the lines referred to by the Deputy.
Under Part M of the building regulations all business premises provided since 1 June 1992 – either by new construction or structural alteration of an existing building – must incorporate access for people with disabilities. It would not be appropriate, in my view, to introduce a grant subvention for business people in complying with their statutory obligations under the building code.
I would hope that any business people refurbishing older, pre-June 1992, shopping premises would seek to provide access for people with disabilities, as part of a quality customer service to all customers. It is estimated that around 10% of the population could be formally classified as disabled. However, a much wider group would benefit from improved access including elderly customers, people recovering from illness whose movement is temporarily impaired, parents wheeling prams or accompanied by young children, and customers of all categories wheeling shopping trolleys in and out of supermarkets.
