Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
113. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will obligate local authorities and statutory transport bodies to do an audit of disabled access throughout the country, regarding footpaths, access ways, etc; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20770/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this question and note that my colleague, the Minister for Transport, will provide a response in relation to the obligations of statutory transport bodies to perform audits of public transport accessibility.
As to the part of the Deputy’s question that references the obligations of local authorities in relation to audits of disability access for footpaths and access ways, my Department is engaging on an ongoing basis with the local authority system for the development of the next National Disability Strategy. I and my officials have met on multiple occasions in recent months with the Local Government Management Agency and the City and County Managers Association. The purpose of this engagement is to ensure that the Strategy has a strong focus on local authorities as key to securing the accessibility of local communities.
Under the Disability Act 2005, measures to be taken to facilitate access by persons with disabilities to services provided by local authorities are principally a matter for the local authority in question or for the Minister for Local Government, insofar as sectoral guidance or plans may be in question. As such, the remit to obligate local authorities to perform accessibility audits in relation to the built environment falls to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
