Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the Minister of State's responsibility, but that was not the issue I was raising. Technical guidance document M - on access and use - of the building regulations 2010 stipulates that all new builds must guarantee circulation within dwellings for disabled persons. Will the Government ensure compliance with the regulations within the private housing market and, if not, why not? What provisions can it put in place to ensure compliance to safeguard access to housing for disabled persons? The regulations do not apply to buildings constructed prior to 1992 and that has clear implications for those with disabilities and their access to housing. When the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government was contacted to provide information on the proportion of buildings built prior to 1992 within the housing market and compliance with the regulations, none could be provided for us. Given the importance of these data in any disability proofing of future budgets, how can the Government ensure adequate fact-finding mechanisms are in place to ensure equality proofing will be a process which will deliver rather than deceive? Will the Minister provide the resources in order that we can actually disability-proof budgets?

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