Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
122. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the details of the oversight process on progressing the delivery and implementation of accessible infrastructure for disabled students such as lifts and ramps, once funding has been approved and contractors appointed, in order that schools are fully inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4716/22]
View answerOn major school building projects, delivery of accessibility infrastructure, is provided by the appointed contractor, overseen by the Design Team in accordance with a Disability Access Certificate (DAC), a statutory approval, secured at an advanced stage of architectural planning.
Part M of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 351 of 2009) prescribes the procedures to be followed in this regard.
In respect of projects devolved to school authorities for delivery, once the critical infrastructure referred to by the Deputy has been approved by the Department, in the context of the architectural planning process, oversight of the delivery and implementation of same is a matter for the relevant school authority and its design team.
In the case of existing schools the Emergency Works Scheme provides funding for accessibility to the building for students or teachers who are enrolling/employed in the school on the advice of the Individuals Occupational Therapist/Consultant and in line with the Department’s guidelines for accessibility.
