Building Regulations Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-10 ============================================================ Teresa Costello (FF), Agricultural Panel I thank the Minister of State for being here. I welcome the opportunity to raise this important issue concerning tactile paving, dished crossings and the safety of blind and visually impaired people when navigating our streets and communities. I am raising this matter on behalf of one of my constituents from Tallaght, Mr. Vincent Stack, who is part of an organisation called Voice of Vision Impairment. Mr. Stack is blind, and to better understand his concerns, I walked a number of routes with him in Tallaght so I could experience first-hand the challenges blind people face every day. I can tell the House now that it was a nerve-wracking experience for me. To be honest, I had never heard of tactile paving and I had never really given much consideration to the obstacles faced by people with visual impairments. What stuck out for me was inconsistency. Within a short walking distance, different types of tactile paving were in use. As Vincent explained, some were easy to detect and provided clear information, while others were not as noticeable. For a sighted person, this may seem like a minor issue, but for a blind person, it can mean the difference between feeling safe and confident or feeling uncertain and vulnerable. This is why I am asking the Minister of State whether there is an agreed national specification or standard for the sourcing and installation of tactile paving slabs and dished crossings across Ireland. Tactile paving is not simply a different type of surface. For blind and visually impaired people, it provides essential information. It tells them they are approaching a crossing point, identifies potential hazards and helps them to navigate independently. When tactile paving varies from one location to another, that information becomes less reliable. One issue Vincent highlighted repeatedly was that many blind people feel they are constantly forced to second-guess themselves. When standing at a crossing, they should know immediately that they have arrived at a crossing point. They should not have to stop and question whether the paving beneath their feet is intended to indicate a crossing or whether it is simply another type of paving finish. Vincent pointed to the tactile paving outside the Maldron Hotel on the N81 in Tallaght as the best example he has encountered anywhere in this country. In his view, the height of the raised bumps and the spacing between them makes the surface much easier to identify underfoot. The tactile information is clear, distinct and immediately recognisable. He believes that this is exactly how tactile paving should function. When he stands on those slabs, he knows where he is and does not have to second-guess himself. By way of contrast, he showed me other locations where the tactile paving is so shallow or inconsistent that it provides little meaningful information. For people with conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, which can reduce sensation in the feet, this issue is even more significant and can go hand in hand with blindness. If tactile indicators are not sufficiently pronounced, they may fail to provide the information they were designed to communicate. The difference between knowing and guessing is significant. It is the different between confidence and anxiety. It is the difference between independence and having to rely on assistance. It is ultimately a matter of safety. I understand technical considerations are involved and that achieving consistency nationwide cannot happen overnight. However, Ireland has standards for electrical installations, building regulations, road markings and countless other aspects of public infrastructure. It is very reasonable of me to ask whether the same approach should apply to tactile paving and dished crossings. If a national standard does not currently exist, I believe one should be developed in consultation with blind and visually impaired people. I can bring a lot of them to the table. Vincent himself has suggested that blind people should be involved in assessing and testing the different tactile paving designs before standards are adopted, ensuring that decisions are informed by those who rely on them every day. From speaking to Vincent, I know that among the blind and visually impaired community these concerns are widely shared. It is not an isolated issue affecting one individual; it is affecting thousands of them. A clear national standard should be incorporated into all new public realm projects, road upgrades and pedestrian infrastructure works. Over time, that would lead to greater consistency across the country and would ensure future generations of blind and visually impaired people encounter the same clear and reliable information when they travel. It is ultimately about safety, dignity and independence. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-10/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:02+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-06-10