Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the role of accessibility officers in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; what oversight is in place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards; and if additional measures are being considered to improve accessibility in social and affordable housing projects. [12947/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Go n-éirí leis an Aire ina phost nua. Will the Minister provide an update on the role of accessibility officers in all councils, but particularly Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council? What oversight is in place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards? Are additional measures being considered to improve accessibility in social and affordable housing projects?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important question on the role of accessibility officers in Dublin City Council and the oversight mechanisms that are place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards.

These are issues in respect of which he has long campaigned, even before he came to the Dáil.

Under the Disability Act 2005, each local authority is required to have at least one officer authorised to act as an access officer. Per the Act, the access officers in each local authority are responsible for providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by the local authority. Each chief executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority.

Part M of the building regulations sets out the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access and use. Part M aims to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability, new dwellings are visitable. The accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.

Housing for All provides the overall framework within which the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 operates. Under it, we are committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing is made available with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units. Local authorities play a key role in the planning and provision of social housing in their areas and decide on the number and types of dwellings to provide based on identified need. The National Disability Authority is undertaking an economic and social evaluation of the universal design housing model. My Department will consider this analysis as soon as it is published.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I thank him for noting that this is something I did at local level. I would really like to see it carried through. As he stated, an independent framework is provided for in section 63 of the Local Government Act. However, section 26 of the Disability Act 2005 places an obligation on public bodies, including local authorities, to have one accessibility officer. I have spoken to people in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council. In that context, I want to know what enforcement mechanisms the Minister has to push local authorities to comply with the Disability Act 2005. As many accessibility officers work part time and do not have clear job descriptions, their work on disability inclusion is often treated as an add-on rather than the main focus.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Their work should certainly not be treated as an add-on; it should be focused on ensuring compliance with the Disability Act. We have had a number of these officers in my local authority in County Wexford. They have been absolutely excellent in ensuring that the relevant requirements are met. I will certainly reach out to the local authorities to remind them of the importance of this role. I will also remind them that the role should be focused on the terms of what the officers involved should be doing, that is, ensuring people with disabilities have fair and equitable access – not just equality but actual equitable access - and ensuring their rights are being upheld. This is a human rights issue.

The needs of people with disabilities are something with which I am particularly familiar. This is certainly a matter on which I will follow up. If the Deputy has any particular situations to highlight, he should provide the details to me and I will follow up on them.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It is great that the Minister will reach out to local authorities. I do not want to be Dublin Bay-North centred; this is for all local authorities. The main point is that we are already required by law to protect the rights of disabled people by ensuring there is equality, accessibility and non-discrimination. The Government has a pivotal role in providing local authorities with adequate resources to fulfil their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This requires a significant increase in funding for local government. I called for that yesterday and I am calling for it again. Local government is what we need to be funding because those involved know the people on the ground and the people they are dealing with. I urge the Government to do that. It creates a more equal system where no region is left behind.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I certainly agree with the Deputy. As someone who has served on a town council and a county council, I am a great believer in local democracy. We will be strengthening the role of county councillors throughout the country. We will be setting up a task force soon which will report quickly to ensure that councillors have their role to be able to hold officials to account where they are not meeting the standards. While we have highly capable officials throughout this country, there are times when perhaps the focus is not put on those key equality issues that should be. I certainly intend to ensure that happens. We will look at the funding piece as well in the context of local authorities. I will certainly pursue this matter.