Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2011
244 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the national disability strategy, the Disability Act 2005 and sectoral plans, if funding is being provided in 2011 for local authorities to carry out accessibility audits and specific improvements in this area as applied in recent years. [12551/11]
View answerIn accordance with my Department's Sectoral Plan, under the Disability Act 2005, all local authorities were required to carry out an accessibility audit in respect of all public spaces, public buildings and services owned and operated by them. Local authorities were then required to draw up implementation plans setting out a programme of works to address any issues identified through the audit process. My Department provided over €77 million, between 2005 and 2010, to assist local authorities in improving access to public spaces, buildings and services for people with disabilities. Funding was allocated annually, for purposes of Disability Services, to local authorities, on the basis of priority areas identified by them in implementation plans. There is no provision for Disability Services in my Department's estimates in 2011.
