Vol. 453 No. 3
69 Miss M. Wallace asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount and nature of all spending within his Department's aegis and by bodies under his Department on schemes specifically directed towards meeting the needs of people with disabilities. [
Provision has been made for access for people with disabilities to all the buildings occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. In the case of Iveagh House wheelchair access is currently available only at the rear of the building. However, we are also seeking to provide wheelchair access to the reception rooms at the front of the building.
All of the Department's buildings at headquarters have been equipped with special toilet facilities for people with disabilities. In the case of our new premises for the Passport Office in Cork, provision has been made for a ramp for access to the building and for special toilet facilities for people with disabilities
It is not possible to specify the precise expenditure figure for the measures outlined above, as these costs were included in overall contract amounts for a range of work done. However, it is estimated that the expenditure involved is in the order of £25,000.
Two special telephones have been provided for staff members of the Department of Foreign Affairs with hearing difficulties, at a total cost of £955.60. An ambulance chair has been purchased at a cost of £135 for use in the event of emergency evacuation procedures.
In the case of the buildings occupied by Agency for Personnel Services Overseas and the Refugee Agency, as of now, there are no specific measures in place directed towards meeting the needs of people with disabilities.
