Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether national building regulations or technical guidance documents prescribe minimum toilet provision ratios for men and women in public buildings including theatres, restaurants and entertainment venues; and if he will provide details of the applicable standards and enforcement mechanisms. [36663/26]
View answerThe Building Regulations 1997–2024 set out the minimum legal requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings. The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the second schedule to the building regulations. These requirements are set out 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. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with the relevant regulation(s).
The number and location of sanitary facilities required in a building is dictated by the nature of the building, the size of the building, the number of people who will use the building, gender ratio, patterns of use and the ease of access.
Regulation G.2 (1) of the second schedule to the Building Regulations requires that ‘Adequate sanitary conveniences shall be provided in a building in rooms provided for that purpose, or in bathrooms, and every room or bathroom which contains a sanitary convenience shall be adequately separated from any place where food is prepared or cooked.’
The related Technical Guidance Document G (Hygiene) references the BS 6465 (Sanitary Installations) suite of documents for guidance on the scale of provision of sanitary appliances.
Paragraph 2.2 of Technical Guidance Document G states that ‘Guidance on the scale of provision, selection, installation, and special requirements of sanitary appliances in domestic, commercial and public buildings is contained in BS 6465 Sanitary installations, Part 1; Part 2 ; Part 3 and Part 4.’
BS 6465 Sanitary installations, Part 1 provides recommended minimum male and female toilet provision ratios across a range of building types including theatres, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is delegated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2025, to the local building control authorities (i.e. the 31 local authorities) who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers.
