Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
238. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans regarding the upgrading and-or reform of building regulations to provide for fully wheelchair accessible houses to be built and to arrange for this to happen as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28530/16]
View answerThe concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. All new buildings, including social housing units must comply with the legally enforceable minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2014. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to new buildings, and to existing buildings where new works, a material alteration or a material change of use is proposed.
The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:
(a) new buildings other than dwellings (including multi-unit developments) are accessible and usable;
(b) extensions to existing buildings other than dwellings are, where practicable, accessible and usable;
(c) material alterations to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable;
(d) certain changes of use to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable; and
(e) new dwellings are visitable.
Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.
While the latest iteration of Part M of the Building Regulations initially coincided with the general downturn in economic and construction activity, its positive effects on access and use in the built environment will now be seen more widely as economic recovery takes hold and construction activity continues to gather momentum and moves onto a sustainable footing. While I have no proposals to amend Part M at this point in time, the Building Regulations, including Part M requirements, are subject to on-going review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation.
