Vol. 543 No. 3
146 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the guidelines which exist to ensure that new houses are accessible to people in wheelchairs and elderly people with restricted mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27234/01]
In June 2000, I amended Part M of the Building Regulations – Access for People with Disabilities – to require all new houses to be visitable by people with disabilities. I also published a revised edition of Technical Guidance Document M on how to comply with the amended regulations.
The amended Part M came into effect on I January 2001. The main features of visitable housing include: level or gently sloping approaches to dwellings; level access at entry door; sufficiently wide doors and corridors to accommodate a wheelchair, and toilet facilities at entry level for wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.
A copy of my press statement, which issued at the time, outlining the main changes in the amended Part M of the building regulations, together with a copy of the revised Technical Guidance Document M, has been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
