1598. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review current planning and housing design guidelines to ensure that the needs of families with disabilities are more comprehensively reflected in future housing developments; his views on the lack of accessible three- and four-bedroom family homes being delivered in new housing schemes, particularly homes incorporating a ground floor-accessible bedroom and bathroom; whether he will consider introducing a requirement that a proportion of family homes within new residential developments be constructed to an accessible standard suitable for families with disabled children or adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54917/26]

Local authorities are required under Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 when preparing a development plan to prepare a housing and development strategy for the creation, improvement and preservation of sustainable places and communities, including consideration of older people and persons with disabilities. In addition to the requirements of Part 3, prior to making a development plan local authorities are required under Part 7 of the Act of 2024 to prepare a Housing Strategy. The Housing Strategy is required to make adequate provision for the housing of the existing and future population of the area of the development plan in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The Housing Strategy is required to take account of the need for a mix of housing types and sizes to meet the requirements of different household groups, including the specific needs of older persons and persons with disabilities. These provisions support the delivery of accessible and inclusive housing that responds to a diverse range of needs.

The Building Regulations set minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the second schedule to the building regulations in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M). The related Technical Guidance Documents (TGD A to M respectively) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms. Part M (Access and Use) of the Building Regulations, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use, set out the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access and use. Primary responsibility for compliance with the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is delegated under the Building Control Act 1990 – 2025 to the local building control authorities (i.e. the 31 local authorities) who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers.

While 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.

The National Disability Authority is currently undertaking a robust economic appraisal of Universal Design homes and my Department is supporting the NDA in this work. This analysis will:

• provide a robust economic appraisal of Universal Design Homes;

• identify the main technical issues in estimating costs and benefits of implementing Universal Design in housing;

• and the implications of integrating Universal Design Homes as a percentage of dwellings in all new housing developments.

Once the NDA's work is published, my Department will, in accordance with the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022- 2027, consider the published analysis and evaluate further actions to support the advancement of Universal Design principles in new housing.

Both of these activities are included as Priority Actions within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality's recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 (Actions 11.4 and 11.5, respectively). More information on this whole-of-government strategy can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/national-human-rights-strategy-for-disabled-people-2025-2030-formats/

Further Guidance on the design of homes for older persons and persons with disabilities is also provided in the Design Manual for Quality Housing (‘the Design Manual’), published by my Department in 2022. The Manual provides guidance on the design of Social Housing developments in respect of site layouts and the internal layouts of individual dwellings, principally to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), and their consultants. Section 5 of the Design Manual includes detailed guidance on dwelling design, with internal layouts prepared following extensive consultation with Local Authorities and other stakeholders including the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD), The Housing Agency, HSE and others.

A number of internal layouts within the Design Manual were designed to meet the requirements of ‘UD home’ following detailed consultation with the CEUD. These UD layouts would be suitable to meet the needs of a wide range of users, including older persons, young children, and people with disabilities. The internal layouts include one, two and three bedroom dwellings and community dwellings. On the 1 July 2025, Government approved a single approval process for all new build social housing projects up to the value of €200 million. This new single approval process applies from 9 January 2026. Mandatory use of the Design Manual is embedded within the process.

My Department has recently communicated annual local authority social housing targets and has directed Local Authorities to complete their Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs) for the period 2027-2030. In preparing their HDAP, each local authority will reflect local need to ensure the right mix of homes to respond to need and priorities, including housing for disabled people for whom targets for the period 2027-2030 will be agreed with each local authority. Local authorities have been requested to refer to their Summary of Social Housing Assessment (SSHA) profiles in setting out the quantum of housing needed for older people and disabled people, including the numbers of UD and UD+ homes that may be required throughout the period of the plan.

At a broader level, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, Ireland’s official standards body under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment are working on a new national standard for Universal Design housing, which will be developed in collaboration with interested parties.

The new standard ‘Universal Design Dwellings: Requirements and Recommendations’ will include specific requirements and recommendations for new dwellings through a Universal Design approach.

It is expected that a draft standard will be available for public consultation in 2026.