Access for All

Why do buildings need to be accessible?
It is a fundamental right for everyone to be able to participate fully within society and buildings play an important role in making a society inclusive (UN Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunity for persons with Disabilities, 1993; Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, 1996; Department of Taoiseach, 2000). By drawing on comparable international figures, it is estimated that in Ireland the proportion of the population with disabilities is approximately 10% (Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, 1996). All environments should be arranged in such a way that allows everyone, equally, to function in the most independent way possible
What is Universal Accessibility?
Universal accessibility is a key concept that states that all environments should be accessible by everyone, regardless of ability. Everybody is different and there is no 'average' person. As a result universal accessibility will benefit all because people with disabilities, people of small or tall stature, parents with buggies, delivery persons and so forth will have greater access to the built and external environments.
What is Universal Accessibility?
Universal accessibility is a key concept that states that all environments should be accessible by everyone, regardless of ability. Everybody is different and there is no 'average' person. As a result universal accessibility will benefit all because people with disabilities, people of small or tall stature, parents with buggies, delivery persons and so forth will have greater access to the built and external environments.
What is the role of the access officer, buildings control officer and disability liaison officer in local authorities?
The Access Officer is responsible for coordinating and promoting access activities in his/her local area. The Access Officer provides local access groups with training, and advice.
The Building Control Officer is responsible for carrying out inspections of buildings under construction and enforcement of the Building Control Act, 1990. The building control officers are available for discussion on building control matters with building owners and their advisors. The building control officer also pursues complaints made in relation to Building Control issues.
The Disability Liaison Officer has responsibility for overseeing the necessary measures and for forming formal liaison arrangements with FAS, Comhairle and such local agencies, as may be appropriate regarding the employment of people with disabilities in the local Authority service. The Disability Liaison Officer is also responsible for informing employees with disabilities with information and the range of services available to them, keeping in contact with disability organisations and highlight the awareness of job opportunities available in local services, facilitating new staff members integration and supporting the needs of employees with disabilities.
Who has the responsibility in making sure buildings are accessible and comply with regulations?
The Local Authority has an immensely important role both as a Building Control Authority and in its development and maintenance of the external environment. The Local Authority is responsible for ensuring that public and incorporating relevant provisions meet private sector housing needs for people with disabilities, in development plans and housing programmes. Each Local Authority is also responsible for the Disabled Persons Grant in their area. Within the Local Authority there are three main officers who deal with issues regarding accessibility for people with disabilities. These are the Access Officer, the Building Control Officer and the disability liaison officer.
It is the function of the Local Authorities to oversee and monitor enforcement of the building control system, including the regulations. Authorities are empowered to carry out inspections and undertake, where necessary, enforcement action in order to ensure compliance. It is worth noting that there are heavy penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for breaches of the regulations.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for all public sector buildings except for buildings run by the Departments of Defence, Education and Science, Health & Children and Local Authorities who look after their own buildings.
What is the role of the access officer, buildings control officer and disability liaison officer in local authorities?
The Access Officer is responsible for coordinating and promoting access activities in his/her local area. The Access Officer provides local access groups with training, and advice.
The Building Control Officer is responsible for carrying out inspections of buildings under construction and enforcement of the Building Control Act, 1990. The building control officers are available for discussion on building control matters with building owners and their advisors. The building control officer also pursues complaints made in relation to Building Control issues.
The Disability Liaison Officer has responsibility for overseeing the necessary measures and for forming formal liaison arrangements with FAS, Comhairle and such local agencies, as may be appropriate regarding the employment of people with disabilities in the local Authority service. The Disability Liaison Officer is also responsible for informing employees with disabilities with information and the range of services available to them, keeping in contact with disability organisations and highlight the awareness of job opportunities available in local services, facilitating new staff members integration and supporting the needs of employees with disabilities
I require an audit of a building - Who carries out access audits?
While there are a number of architectural firms, disability consultancy services and others who carry out accessibility audits at present, there is no register of access auditors available in Ireland. The NDA does not accredit or specifically recommend any access auditors, however it has established a list of. Auditors nationwide. For further information please contact Eoin O'Herlihy at the NDA on 01-6080400 or your local access group who may be able to provide you with information on access auditors. Remember to find out the qualifications and experience of the firm carrying out your audit. One good way in doing this is to contact previous clients.
What is the Barcelona Declaration and what does it mean for people with disabilities?
The Barcelona Declaration is designed to introduce the concept of "design for all" into the mainstream of Local Authorities. Launched at the International Conference on The City and the Disabled held in Barcelona in 1995, it is a simple but powerful document that enables Local Authorities to introduce measures that make cities, towns and villages accessible for all.
The aim of the Barcelona Declaration Project is to encourage local government to make provision for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community, which it represents. To date over 78 Councils have adopted the Barcelona Declaration. The Institute for Design and Disability (Institute for Design and Disability, National College of Art and Design, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8.Tel: 01-6364383. www.idd.ie) is delivering the project on behalf of the NDA. Further details of the Barcelona Declaration project can be obtained at www.barcelonaproject.ie or from the Barcelona Declaration Project Office, Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin 8, Tel. 01-4757563.
What are Lifetime Adaptable Homes?
While part M of the Building Regulations provides for the basic access provision, the concept "Lifetime Adaptable Housing" goes one step further by incorporating in the design the provision for change to a home at a later date without the need for major reconstruction. In the adaptable design of the house, structural and other elements that are difficult to change are designed to anticipate later modification to enable accessibility. For example door openings and corridor dimensions are sufficiently wide to be accessible without later modification
What are the current regulations regarding accessibility of the built environment?
Accessibility of the built environment in Ireland for people with disabilities is controlled by Part M of the Building Regulations (2000) entitled "Access for People with Disabilities". The underlying philosophy of Part M is to ensure that as far as is reasonable and practicable; buildings should be usable by people with disabilities. A Technical Guidance Document for Part M is also provided in three sections, which include access and use, sanitary conveniences and audience and spectator facilities. The first part of section one deals with both buildings other than dwellings and the second part of section one deals solely with dwellings. Areas covered in the document include: approach, access, circulation, hotel and guest rooms and use of facilities in a building.
The building regulations apply to construction of new buildings after 1st January 2001 and any extension work or renovations carried out after this date. In addition, certain parts of the regulations apply to existing buildings where a material change of use takes place. Otherwise, building regulations do not apply to buildings constructed prior to 1st June 1992.
There are also a number of Acts that provide a legislative framework whereby premises and services must ensure that organisations do all that is reasonable to comply with minimum accessibility requirements. These include the Equal Status Act, the Health and Safety Act and the Employment Equality Act.
Who can I contact regarding discrimination or a complaint?
The Equality Authority of Ireland is working towards the elimination of discrimination in a number in a number of areas including employment, in the provision of goods and services, education, property and other opportunities to which the public generally have access. There are nine distinct grounds that the Equality Authority is working on and one of these grounds is disability.The Equality Authority deals with queries in relation to equality and discrimination and the majority of queries and complaints are resolved without involvement of the legal process by an in-house legal service. Also they provide a free confidential information and advisory service to employers, service providers, individuals, trade unions and the legal profession on the implementation of the Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the Equal Status legislation. They can be contacted by telephoning 01-4173333 or on lo-Call 1890 245545 or check out the Equality Authority website on http://www.equality.ie/