Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Section 25 obliges public bodies to make public buildings accessible to people with disabilities, in accordance with Part M of the building regulations. Section 25(3)(a) states that public buildings will have to comply with Part M "not later than 31 December 2015". It is proposed in amendment No. 41 that the "compliance of public buildings with Part M shall be ensured by the allocation of certificates of compliance by a building control officer". The Building Control Act 1990 provides that the enforcement of the national building regulations, including Part M of the regulations, which relates to access for people with disabilities, is vested in local building control authorities, rather than individual officers who are employed by the authority.

I am happy to inform the House that the Government intends to introduce a building control (amendment) Bill in the autumn, which will provide for the introduction of a system of disability access certificates. The building control authorities will have to certify that all planned non-domestic buildings and apartment blocks comply with Part M of the building regulations before work can commence. The proposed system will apply to a wider range of buildings than the public buildings which are covered in the amendment under discussion. The sectoral plan of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will contain information about the measures to be taken to ensure compliance with the regulations.

For the reasons I have outlined, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 41. I emphasise that the introduction later this year of a system of disability access certificates represents a significant departure. The system will strengthen further the accessibility provisions.