Vol. 398 No. 10
162 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if he will list the offices used by his Department to which easy access by means of ramps and lifts does not exist for those using wheelchairs; the services provided in these offices; and the plans to improve access.
In so far as the offices used by the headquarters of my Department are concerned, purpose built facilities of the kind in question are available in all cases except at the offices at 72/76 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. Here, however, wheelchair access can be gained via the car park.
There are a number of other offices and buildings throughout the country the use of which comes within my Department's area of responsibility, for example, Garda stations, courthouses, prisons and places of detention, but the compilation of the information sought in relation to all these buildings would involve a disproportionate amount of staff resources which could not be justified. It is the policy, however, to make provision for access facilities for disabled persons, so far as this is feasible, and this is borne in mind particularly where new premises are being acquired and when new office building or major refurbishment of existing premises is being undertaken.
163 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline, in respect of each State body for which he is statutorily responsible, the public buildings where easy access facilities such as ramps, lifts or otherwise for persons using wheelchairs do not exist; the services provided in the buildings; and the plans to improve accessibility thereto.
Of the offices used by the various statutory bodies for which I have responsibility, the following do not have facilities affording easy access to persons using wheelchairs, the services provided in each will be clear from their titles: the Central Land Registry Office, Chancery Street, Dublin 7, assisted wheelchair access can however be obtained by means of a ramp at the rear of the building; the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1; the Film Censor's Office, 16 Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2, improvements to this premises are in progress and the question of providing wheelchair access is under examination; the Censorship of Publications Board, 13 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2; the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, 13 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2; and the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests, 12 Clare Street, Dublin 2.
I wish to make the point that it is policy to make provision for access facilities for disabled persons, so far as this is feasible, and this is borne in mind particularly when new premises are being acquired and when new office building or major refurbishment of existing premises is being undertaken.
