Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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169. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the new regulations that will require a changing places toilet to be included in certain buildings as signed by him (details supplied); if these regulations are now in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3193/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will greatly improve community participation and social inclusion for people with complex care needs.

The key objectives of the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 are to increase the provision of changing places toilets in certain new buildings, and to improve the accessibility and usability of existing building stock by making provision for a changing places toilet, where there is a significant extension or material change of use.

The types of buildings to which the regulations apply are listed in Table 1 of Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use 2022 (TGD M) and include locations such as shopping centres, museums, galleries, cinemas, hotels, roadside service stations and heritage sites.

The number of new Changing Places Toilets provided in any county will be determined by construction activity commenced in that county and the number of buildings or works that meet the use and size criteria listed in Table 1 of TGD M.

The operative date of the Regulations is 1 January, 2023, it should be noted that subject to the transitional periods cited in the Regulation, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will apply to buildings or works commenced after the 1st of January 2024.