- Statutory Rule 1999 No. 202
The Disability Discrimination (Services and Premises) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999
© Crown Copyright 1999
Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland printed from this website are printed under the superintendence and authority of the Controller of HMSO being the Government Printer for Northern Ireland.
The legislation contained on this web site is subject to Crown Copyright protection. It may be reproduced free of charge provided that it is reproduced accurately and that the source and copyright status of the material is made evident to users.
It should be noted that the right to reproduce the text of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland does not extend to the Government Printer for Northern Ireland imprints which should be removed from any copies of the Statutory Rule which are issued or made available to the public. This includes reproduction of the Statutory Rule on the Internet and on intranet sites. The Royal Arms may be reproduced only where they are an integral part of the original document.
The text of this Internet version of the Statutory Rule which is published by the Government Printer for Northern Ireland has been prepared to reflect the text as it was Made. A print version is also available and is published by The Stationery Office Limited as the The Disability Discrimination (Services and Premises) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 , ISBN 0 33 793505 X. The print version may be purchased by clicking here. Braille copies of this Statutory Rule can also be purchased at the same price as the print edition by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 5522 or e-mail:customer.services@tso.co.uk.
Further information about the publication of legislation on this website can be found by referring to the Frequently Asked Questions.
To ensure fast access over slow connections, large documents have been segmented into "chunks". Where you see a "continue" button at the bottom of the page of text, this indicates that there is another chunk of text available.
| Made | 27th April 1999 | ||
| Coming into operation | 1st October 1999 |
The Department of Health and Social Services, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 21(5)(e) and (h) and 67(1) and (3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995[1] and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:
Citation, commencement and interpretation
1. - (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Disability Discrimination (Services and Premises) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 1st October 1999.
(2) In these Regulations -
-
"the Act" means the Disability Discrimination Act 1995;
-
"building" means an erection or structure of any kind.
(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954[2] shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Physical features
2.
For the purposes of section 21(2) of the Act the following are to be treated as physical features (whether permanent or temporary) -
-
(a) any feature arising from the design or construction of a building on the premises occupied by the provider of services;
(b) any feature on the premises occupied by the provider of services or any approach to, exit from or access to such a building;
(c) any fixtures, fittings, furnishings, furniture, equipment or materials in or on the premises occupied by the provider of services;
(d) any fixtures, fittings, furnishings, furniture, equipment or materials brought on to premises other than those occupied by the provider of services by or on behalf of the provider of services, in the course of providing services to the public or to a section of the public, for the purpose of providing such services;
(e) any other physical element or quality of any land comprised in the premises occupied by the provider of services.
Auxiliary Aids and Services
3.
- (1) For the purposes of section 21(4) of the Act the following are not to be treated as auxiliary aids or services -
-
devices, structures or equipment the installation, operation or maintenance of which would necessitate making a permanent alteration to or which would have a permanent effect on the physical fabric of premises, fixtures, fittings, furnishings, furniture, equipment or materials.
(2) This Regulation will cease to have effect on the coming into operation of section 21(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services on
L.S.
Bill Smith
Assistant Secretary
27th April 1999.
(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations are made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ("the Act"). Section 21(2) of the Act concerns the duty of service providers, when a physical feature makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons to access its service, to remove the feature, alter it so it no longer has that effect, provide a reasonable means of avoiding it or provide a reasonable alternative method of making it available to disabled persons. These Regulations make provision for various things to be treated as physical features.
Section 21(4) of the Act concerns the duty of a service provider in certain circumstances to provide an auxiliary aid or service to disabled persons. These Regulations make provision for various things not to be treated as auxiliary aids or services until the coming into operation of section 21(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act.
A Regulatory Impact Assessment of the costs and benefits that these Regulations will have can be obtained by post from Robert Gray, Social Policy Branch, Department of Health and Social Services, Room C.4.22, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3PP.
Notes:
[1] 1995 c. 50; section 67 is modified in its application to Northern Ireland by paragraph 46 of Schedule 8back
ISBN 0 337 93505 X