Vol. 398 No. 10
230 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will outline, in respect of each State body for which he is statutorily responsible, the public buildings where easy access facilities such as ramps, lifts or otherwise for persons using wheelchairs do not exist; the services provided in the buildings; and the plans to improve accessibility thereto.
The matters raised by the Deputy relate essentially to the day-to-day operation of the State-sponsored bodies themselves.
231 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will list the offices used by his Department to which easy access by means of ramps and lifts does not exist for those using wheelchairs; the services provided in these offices; and the plans to improve access.
The only offices used by the Department of Tourism and Transport in Dublin city which are not accessible to wheelchair users, because of the lack of a ramp or lift from ground level, are those in Scotch House, Hawkins Street, Dublin 2, which houses staff dealing with air traffic, engineering and aviation and marine communications services, and the corporate affairs of the Air Navigation Services Office.
The question of improving the accessibility of Scotch House is a complex one, because of the particular location and structure of the building, and is currently being addressed in the light of usage of the building.
With the exception of premises used by the Meteorological Service at Dublin and Cork Airports and by the Air Navigation Services Offices at Cork Airport, other specially equipped premises used by the Meteorological Service and by the Air Navigation Services Office at airports and elsewhere do not allow wheelchair access via ramp or lift. By virtue of the particular requirements of the services being provided there, no need has arisen or is foreseen for the provision of access to wheelchair users. In fact, none of the Department's total staff of about 950 is a wheelchair user.
