Dr. Gerald Craddock:

I want to come back on several comments. I echo Mr. Kenny's comment on electric vehicles, particularly on having a sound system built in. Deputy Harkin made a point on cyclists. We have a big issue with e-scooters taking over the same space. We have made representations and submissions on e-scooters particularly on their speed. It was amazing to hear on a "Prime Time" programme that e-scooters could clock up speeds of 120 km/h. I am not sure where they could be used. Another issue is where they are stored. Anybody who has been to any other European country has seen that they are just left on the sidewalk or in the middle of the road. There should be the same set-up in cities as for the standard bicycles. There should be a designated place where they are parked. We have made submissions to the NTA regarding this.

With regard to housing, as already been mentioned we are pushing for Part M to be revised. It needs to be updated. Mr. Cawley mentioned that much of our housing stock must be retrofitted. This is a huge cost. To go back to the human rights issue, housing is a key requirement under Article 28 of the UNCRPD on independent living.

The world ageing report in 2015 outlined that government support, resources and capacity building are required to support and advance universal design. Mr. Harris and Mr. Kenny have raised these issues. The three ingredients, according to the world ageing report, are resources, capacity building and government support. The report had us in the same sentence as Norway and Singapore with regard to advancing universal design. We have a bit to go but it was nice to see it in the report.