Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will have arrangements made for all major and big hotels here be requested to have available one bedroom that would be fully disabled person friendly. [12694/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Part M (Access for People with Disabilities) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations, as amended, makes provision for the access and use of buildings, including hotels, by people with disabilities. Building Regulations apply to new buildings and, in certain circumstances, to works involving an extension, material alteration or material change of use to an existing building.

Specific guidance on how a hotel can comply with its obligations under Part M is set out in TGD-M, with specific provisions included in section 1.18. In general terms, one guest bedroom out of every twenty is required to be suitable in terms of size, layout and facilities for independent use by a wheelchair user.

Part M /TGD M of the Building Regulations has recently been reviewed and the revised requirements and guidance will come into effect from 1 January 2012. Guidance in relation to accessible sleeping accommodation, in particular, has been considerably enhanced.