Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are exemptions from providing a hearing loop for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community with regard to the planning legislation regarding the provision of hearing loops in public places such as theatres and cinemas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29302/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The provision of audible aids in public buildings is not a requirement under the planning code. Rather, it is a requirement of the building regulations. The aim of the building regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The building regulations apply to the design and construction of a building and to the extension or material alteration of a building. The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the second schedule to the building regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts classified as Parts A to M.

The requirements of Part M, Access and Use, provide that adequate provision shall be made for people to access and use a building, its facilities and environs. The accompanying Technical Guidance Document M (TGD M) provides detailed guidance on how this may be achieved in practice.

Audible aids assist people, especially those with hearing impairment, in accessing a building and fully utilising the relevant facilities. There are several types of audible aids including public address systems, audio frequency induction loop systems, infra red systems and radio systems.  

TGD M provides detailed guidance in respect of aids to communication in buildings other than dwellings.  The objective is to ensure people can independently access and use a building and its facilities; and to facilitate active participation where appropriate.  A hearing enhancement system should be provided for people with hearing impairment in all audience and spectator facilities with fixed seating.

In the case of audience and spectator facilities without fixed seating a hearing enhancement system should be provided for people with hearing impairment. This does not include classrooms in primary and post primary schools or standard meeting rooms in offices.