Written Answers. - Barcelona Declaration.
Michael Ring
Question:
261
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if all county councils have become signatories to the Barcelona Declaration; the list of councils that have taken part; and the projects they have, giving details for each county.
[21727/03]
The Barcelona Declaration, adopted at the European Congress The City and the Disabled held in Barcelona in March 1995 aims to promote awareness of the rights, needs, potentials and capabilities of people with disabilities among municipal authorities and the general public. To date, a total of 78 local authorities in Ireland have adopted the Barcelona Declaration. A break-down is provided in the following table.
The promotion and adoption of the Barcelona Declaration is being supported by the National Disability Authority, which operates under the aegis of my Department. The project is being undertaken over three years and a total budget allocation of €387,000 has been provided. Progress is monitored by the NDA's steering committee drawn from people with disabilities, county councillors, city and county managers and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The project, which commenced in February 2002, is being delivered by the Institute for Design and Disability on behalf of the NDA and is scheduled for completion by June 2004. To date 78 local authorities out of 114 have signed the declaration and this process is continuing.
Since February 2002, following the national launch of the project, there were eight regional launch meetings, a plenary conference and numerous presentations to local authorities and at relevant seminars. In January 2003, a training programme in awareness raising was conducted for two local authorities, Macroom and Galway, participating in pilot projects and actions. An equality/disability proofing decision-making template for local authorities, together with guidelines for pilot actions and projects is being prepared.
At present, there are five local authorities involved in pilot actions and projects: Kerry County Council is developing a model of good practice in implementing the Barcelona Declaration, including an awareness raising programme for county council staff; Monaghan County Council is developing a model of good practice in an audit procedure for reviewing projects and actions which have been carried out by the council in relation to equality/disability issues; Wicklow County Council is developing an e-consultative process using IT and telecommunication technology to improve the participation of people with disability in the decision making process; Galway City Council has conducted awareness raising training for city council staff and developed a consultative process in relation to accessibility for people with disabilities. The project focuses on housing estates, public amenities, building, street paving and crossing as well as public transport; and Macroom Town Council is addressing accessibility to the Garda station, court, public library, public amenities, streetscape and street crossings. The project also seeks the development of audio-visual access to ATM points in the town as well as awareness training and audit and consultation procedures.
Participating Local Authorities:
County CouncilsCavan County Council
Clare County Council
Donegal County Council
Dublin South County Council
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown-County Council
Fingal County Council
Laois County Council
Leitrim County Council
Limerick County Council
Longford County Council
Louth County Council
Kerry County Council
Kildare County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Mayo County Council
Meath County Council
Monaghan County Council
Offaly County Council
Sligo County Council
South Tipperary County Council
Waterford County Council
Wexford County Council
Wicklow County Council
City CouncilsCork City Council
Dublin City Council
Galway City Council
Limerick City Council
Waterford City Council
Borough CouncilsClonmel Borough Council
Drogheda Borough Council
Kilkenny Borough Council
Sligo Borough Council
Wexford Borough Council
Town CouncilsArdee Town Council
Arklow Town Council
Athlone Town Council
Balbriggan Town Council
Ballina Town Council
Ballybay Town Council
Ballyshannon Town Council
Bantry Town Council
Birr Town Council
Bray Town Council
Bundoran Town Council
Carlow Town Council
Carrickmacross Town Council
Carrick on Suir
Castleblaney Town Council
Clonakilty Town Council
Clones Town Council
Dundalk Town Council
Dungarvan Town Council
Edenderry Town Council
Ennis Town Council
Enniscorthy Town Council
Fermoy Town Council
Gorey Town Council
Killarney Town Council
Kilkee Town Council
Kilrush Town Council
Leixlip Town Council
Lismore Town Council
Listowel Town Council
Longford Town Council
Macroom Town Council
Monaghan Town Council
Mullingar Town Council
Nenagh Town Council
New Ross Town Council
Passage West Town Council
Portlaoise Town Council
Shannon Town Council
Tipperary Town Council
Tralee Town Council
Tuam Town Council
Tullamore Town Council
Skibbereen Town Council
Wicklow Town Council
