Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I ask the Minister of State to clarify whether a regulation exists that all newly built houses must provide wheelchair access. I understand there is such a regulation but it is honoured more in the breach than in the observance. Many new houses, either one-off houses or houses in estates, have inadequate wheelchair access. Have penalties been imposed on developers or those building one-off houses when they are not making necessary provision for wheelchair access? In some cases I have seen beautiful ramps up to front doors and then two steps to get into the house which renders the ramp useless. What is the regulation in this regard?

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