Builders, developers and architects were yesterday urged to familiarise themselves with new proposals to make all new housing visitable by people with disabilities from next summer.
The new regulations will come into force on July 1st, 2000, and all new homes which do not comply will not be granted planning permission.
The requirements include that new houses have entrance ramps, level access at the entry door, front door and living room doors wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and a ground floor toilet located so as to be usable by wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.
Urging those in the building industry to study the proposals, the Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms Mary Wallace, said the modest adjustment in housing size cost would be fully justified by the benefits to householders, their families and disabled visitors.
A spokesman for the Minister said the new requirements would be cost neutral. The requirement to have a wider door frame or a ramp instead of steps would be negligible in terms of the overall cost of the house, but would require planning and consideration by the architects and builders.