Vol. 438 No. 7
104 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the many steps at the entrance of the elevated Courthouse in Carlow, and in view of the renovations costing £400,000 going on at present, the plans, if any, she has to install a lift in order to allow access for handicapped people.
Carlow County Council has submitted proposals in relation to improvements to Carlow Courthouse at an estimated minimum cost of £274,000. All this is targeted at works which are deemed essential if the basic fabric of the courthouse is to be preserved.
The first and most urgent task was to renovate the roof. This work is now ongoing at a cost of £107,500. On completion of the roof consideration will be given to essential refurbishment works.
There are particular difficulties with the provision of access for the disabled in Carlow Courthouse. The advice available to me is that the provision of a special lift in Carlow may not be structurally possible, but if feasible would cost in excess of £50,000.
Because of the very poor state of repair of many courthouses my first priority must be to provide for the basic works necessary to maintain the fabric of this and other courthouses.
I fully accept that works beyond those required for maintenance of the fabric are desirable and that, in this courthouse, as in others, the provision of resources necessary to cater for the needs of the disabled deserves special attention. Special provisions for the disabled are made in all new courthouse projects and where feasible such special provisions are also included in major refurbishment projects.
