Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2009
191 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will clarify his role in ensuring that all city council and town council offices are accessible for people with a disability (details supplied). [5467/09]
View answerMy Department's Sectoral Plan, as provided for in section 36 of the Disability Act 2005, was developed in consultation with people with disabilities to assist the Department and local authorities in supporting an inclusive society with accessible buildings, facilities, services and information. There are statutory provisions, codes of practice and guidelines available to assist local authorities in addressing the requirements of the Sectoral Plan.
Local authorities are required, firstly, to carry out access audits to identify what remedial action is necessary to make public buildings and facilities accessible to people with disabilities, and secondly, in light of the access audits to draw up implementation plans setting out a programme of works to address deficits identified during the access audits.
Each implementation plan, when adopted, is published and placed on the authority's website with targets and timeframes for carrying out the required works. Priority is given to local authority buildings and other facilities to which people with disabilities most frequently require access, including footpaths, public amenity areas, information and other services. To date, 33 implementation plans have been received in the Department. One more local authority has yet to submit an implementation plan. Local authorities are required to publish their plans and forward a copy to the Department.
My Department has provided €58 million since 2005 to local authorities to assist them in carrying out actions identified in their implementation plans. The Department is monitoring progress on the implementation of the plans and seeks reports, as appropriate, as required by the Sectoral Plan.
