National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

Current Legislative / Policy Context8.7 The demand for accessible housing in Ireland is addressed through a variety ofmechanisms:• The operation of housing adaptation grant schemes to retrofit existing private andsocial dwellings to suit the changing needs of people with disabilities;• The direct provision of user specific dwellings by social housing providers for which aparticular need has been identified, i.e. funding provided by local authorities toapproved housing bodies for the development of specific need units through CAS and/ or the social housing long term leasing initiative; and• The local authority housing programme for the provision of dwellings for olderpeople.8.8 In Ireland, Part M of the Building Regulations provides for access to buildings forpeople with disabilities. The related Technical Guidance Document, TGD M, containsguidance on how to comply with Part M. Where works are carried out in accordance withthis guidance, this will, prima facie, indicate compliance with the Regulations. TGD M setsdown the minimum requirements necessary to ensure that dwellings are visitable by peoplewith a disability. This provides that people with a disability can safely and convenientlyapproach and gain access to a dwelling, have access to the main habitable rooms at entrylevel and gain access to and use of a toilet at entry level.8.9 However, it is important to note that these requirements do not deem that a dwellingmust be fully wheelchair accessible or habitable or indeed be accessible to people with alltypes of disabilities, as the Regulations primarily deal with matters in relation to physicaldisability and mobility issues, rather than the broader range of disability.8.10 A review of the effectiveness of Part M of the Building Regulations, undertaken in2005 by the NDA, found, inter alia, that Part M did not adequately address the problemsexperienced by people with hearing impairments, vision impairments or intellectualdisabilities and that people with disabilities continue to experience significant difficulties inaccessing and using buildings. It also found that inspection and enforcement of Part M waspoor and architects did not routinely self audit buildings against Part M.8.11 In recognition of the importance of accessibility of the built environment and theimpact on the lives of people with disabilities, and in line with a commitment in the DECLGSectoral Plan, a comprehensive review of Part M was initiated in December 2005. The key84 84