Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2022
20. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the departmental working group investigating potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied); the progress the group has made since the closure of the public consultation; the timeline for the group's report to his office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46881/22]
View answerA changing places toilet is an accessible sanitary facility with a toilet, hoist, basin, adult-sized changing bench and optional shower. It offers larger supported facilities that address the needs of people for whom current accessible sanitary accommodation is inadequate.
There is no current legislation requiring the provision for a changing places toilet in publically accessible buildings in Ireland.
In December 2020, in support of Government policy on advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, a Working Group was established to examine the provision of a changing places toilet in certain buildings to promote community participation and social inclusion. The Working Group recommended the types and sizes of buildings where a changing places toilet should be required. Additionally, they recommended the technical requirements of a changing places toilet such as equipment, room size and layout of the facility.
In February 2022, my Department conducted a public consultation seeking submissions, observations and comments on a draft proposed amendment to the Building Regulations and associated Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use to make provision for a changing places toilet in certain buildings. The consultation period ended on May 12, 2022 and more than 600 individual submissions were received.
Since the conclusion of the public consultation phase the Working Group has met. They are scheduled to meet again shortly to continue the consideration of the submissions with the view to finalising documentation on the matter later this year.
