496. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has assessed the risk posed to people with low vision by street infrastructure which may be difficult to visually distinguish from footpaths and surrounding buildings; whether he will engage with the NTA and TII and local authorities and organisations representing people who are blind or vision impaired regarding the adequacy and consistent application of existing standards; whether consideration will be given to national guidance for the retrofitting of existing infrastructure where accessibility issues are identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62583/26]

497. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport the national standards or guidance that apply to visual contrast and accessibility in the design of street-lighting columns, traffic and signage poles, bus-stop infrastructure and other street furniture for people who are blind or vision impaired; whether existing national design standards contain specific requirements regarding sufficient visual contrast between such infrastructure and its surrounding environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62581/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.

The shared space approach to urban design is addressed in the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) which is available to Local Authorities on my Department’s website and on www.dmurs.ie. The Manual sets out design guidance and standards for constructing new and reconfiguring existing urban roads and streets in Ireland. It aims to end the practice of designing streets as traffic corridors and instead focuses on the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. DMURS emphasises the role of streets as social spaces, where people come first and uses practical examples from Irish cities and towns to show how these issues can be designed for and managed successfully.

A National Guidelines and Standards Group (NGSG) has also been established to oversee and coordinate all design guidelines and standards (including accessibility, cycling and other Active Travel projects) which have been developed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the NTA and Department of Transport.

The Group seeks to improve the consistency of approach across state bodies, including with the National Disability Authority (NDA), to lead to a more streamlined and consistent approach to the design and delivery of projects through the setting of minimum common requirements including on audit and quality control.

In addition, the Cycle Design Manual (CDM) was developed through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including disability groups such as the NDA, and efforts were made to make the contents of the CDM as beneficial to all potential road users including those with disabilities.

Both DMURS and the Cycle Design Manual address the risks posed to people who are blind or vision impaired, primarily by integrating the Universal Design principles to ensure streetscapes remain safe, navigable and legible.