Services for People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Questions (270, 271)

Billy Timmins

Question:

270. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding scooter user access for students who need to use scooters to get into lecture halls at a university (details supplied) but are finding it almost impossible to access their lecture theatres on their scooters; the steps that have been taken by the university to ensure that all students can attend the university regardless of disability and the plans they have to enable scooter users to access their lecture theatres without the present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49642/12]

Billy Timmins

Question:

271. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding scooter user access for students who need to use scooters to get into the student accommodation at a university (details supplied) but are finding it almost impossible to access the student accommodation on their scooters; the steps that have been taken by the university to ensure that all students can access the student accommodation at the university regardless of disability and the plans they have to enable scooter users to access their accommodation without the present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49643/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.

The matters raised by the Deputy fall within the responsibilities of the Governing Authority of the University to deal with.

In this regard the Disability Act 2005 requires that all public bodies ensure that public buildings are, as far as practicable, made accessible to people with disabilities not later than 2015.