Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for the amendments. These were discussed in great detail in the Seanad. There is no question but that all of us want to ensure we have adapted housing and universal design in housing for those with disabilities and we are certainly moving towards it. I have a different point of view from the Deputy. This is not a special planning process. It is the normal planning process with strict timelines around delivery, because we need homes. It is bringing them back to the local authorities.

Amendment No. 11 relates to the considerations around universal design obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I explained this at length. These matters are more appropriate to building control and standards legislation, rather than planning legislation. It is important we have good and exacting standards in the local authorities and we are getting much better, but we need to produce much more. People with disabilities spend much more time on the social housing waiting list than those on housing lists without special needs and that is why we are bringing forward a special plan for disability housing. Amendment No. 11 is really around building regulations and standards and is not appropriate to this legislation.

The same argument goes for amendment No. 12. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 contains a number of actions aimed at promoting low-carbon construction. We have the climate budget as well, so we are obliged to do that by law and will do so. Amendment No. 12 is more relevant to building regulations and construction waste standards than to planning legislation. It is already being addressed within the climate action plan. That is not taking away from the reason, thrust or meaning in putting forward these amendments. I fully understand that. We all want to go to the same place on this and we are doing that. However, these two amendments are not appropriate to this legislation and I cannot accept them.