Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to amend building regulations to improve accessibility for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36632/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I initiated a public consultation process in December 2005 on a review of the existing Part M (Access for People with Disabilities) of the Building Regulations and the related Technical Guidance Document (TGD) M. I asked interested parties to identify any deficiencies in the existing Part M/TGD M regime; and to suggest how they should be remedied.

An excellent response has been received — more than 40 detailed submissions by the end of the consultation period on 30 March 2006. The submissions have been summarised by my Department and are now the subject of examination by a Sub-Group of the Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB).

I expect to receive a draft amended Part M/TGD M proposals from BRAB, early in 2007, and to publish draft regulations shortly thereafter.