Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Offices.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

345 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of offices or institutions under his Department which are open to the public; the number of these accessible to people with disabilities; the plans, if any, there are to ensure all buildings are accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11756/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

The principal offices of the Department are located in Dublin at Marlborough Street, Irish Life Centre, Hawkins House, O'Connell Street and also in Athlone and Tullamore. In addition there are a number of smaller regional offices. With the exception of one location in Dublin all the offices are accessible to people with disabilities. Arrangements are in train to have the situation in that location rectified by next September.

All educational institutions are generally open to the public. Provision is made for access for people with disabilities to all new educational facilities, in compliance with the building regulations. My Department continues to give priority to the provision of funding for necessary improvements where an existing building does not have satisfactory facilities for people with disabilities.

The following semi-State organisations come within the aegis of my Department and the situation with regard to both public access and access for people with disabilities is as outlined in the following table:

Institution/Office	Open toPublic	DisabledAccess
Higher Education Authority	Yes	Yes
Royal Irish Academy	Yes	Yes
Royal Irish Academy of Music	Yes	No
National Council for Educational Awards	Yes	No
Institúid na Teangeolaíochta Éireann	Yes	Yes
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies	Yes	Yes

The plans to ensure that these buildings are accessible for people with disabilities are a matter for the bodies themselves, in compliance with the relevant building regulations.

Finally, the position in relation to the vocational education committees is that their offices are generally open to the public. However, my Department does not have details in relation to the access for people with disabilities to these offices.