asked the Minister for the Environment if he will undertake, in conjunction with An Foras Forbartha, a detailed study of the incidence of accidents at home, resulting in serious injury to children, as a result of the type of housing design; and if he will undertake to have the recommendations of such a study embodied in a series of design directives to each local authority, and specifically its planning department.
Written Answers. - Home Accidents to Children.
241.
The information available to my Department about the incidence of accidents at home, resulting in serious injury to children, does not establish a need for the survey suggested by the Deputy.
In their discharge on my behalf of their normal functions of examining housing plans, and inspecting dwellings, officers of my Department pay particular attention to known aspects of design which may represent accident hazards. Appropriate modifications are sought where any hazard of significance is present.
However, the detailed statistical information available to me is limited. If the Deputy or any other interested party submits to me any reliable evidence of the need for the suggested survey, I will certainly give the matter further consideration.