Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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645. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the regulations in place regarding accessibility in private sector housing developments to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities are met in the provision of private sector housing; and if he will provide copies of relevant regulations or legislation. [31033/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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All new buildings must comply with the legally enforceable minimum performance standards set out in the Second Schedule of the Building Regulations 1997-2017. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M) Amendment Regulations 2010, S.I. No. 513 of 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.

The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:

(a) new buildings other than dwellings (including multi-unit developments) 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.

Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.

A copy of the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010 may be accessed at www.housing.gov.ie/housing/building-standards/tgd-part-m-access-and-use/si-513-2010-building-regulations-tgd-part-m.

My Department has also issued guidelines on ‘Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities’ which may be accessed at www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad%2C1979%2Cen.pdf.

These guidelines provide guidance on accessibility and adaptability in scheme layout and design and also dwelling design with the aim of ensuring ease of access and circulation for all residents, including people with impaired mobility.