Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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427. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in the provision of planning legislation to ensure more universal design of buildings, in order that persons can access buildings, regardless of age or ability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35444/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. In the context of our national Building Regulations, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010 and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to new buildings, and to existing buildings where new works, a material alteration or a material change of use is proposed, in order to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:

(a) new buildings other than dwellings are accessible and usable;

(b) extensions to existing buildings other than dwellings are, where practicable, accessible and useable;

(c) material alterations to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable;

(d) certain changes of use to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable, and

(e) new dwellings are visitable.

While the upgraded Part M /TGD M 2010 requirement initially coincided with the general downturn in economic and construction activity, its positive effects on access and use in the built environment will now be seen more widely as economic recovery takes hold. Building Regulations, including Part M requirements, are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and wellbeing of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of technological progress and innovation.