(Carlow-Kilkenny): On 10 February I tabled the following question to 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. The Minister stated in a written reply on 15 February that the estimate for this work was £274,000. That is incorrect; the figure is in excess of £350,000. She stated also that there were particular difficulties with the provision of access for the disabled to Carlow courthouse. That is the nub of the whole matter. Carlow has a beautiful courthouse with lovely pillars but it has 13 wide steps right across the front of the building which, unfortunately, make it impossible for a person in a wheelchair to gain access to the building.
Some weeks ago a person in a wheelchair had to be carried up the steps of the courthouse by four members of the Garda Síochána. That is not good enough. People may have thought this person was being arrested when in fact it was simply a matter of having no other way to get into the building. The Minister stated in reply to my question that the cost of providing a lift would be £50,000. I have been given a figure of £20,000. The Minister went on to say she fully accepted that works beyond those required for maintenance 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. It does not deserve special attention, it deserves special action and the only action that will help the disabled is for the Minister to allocate funding to provide a lift for this courthouse.
The post office in the town has provided a ramp to cater for people in wheelchairs, which is commendable. The least we would have expected following the Year of the Disabled was that people with disabilities would have access to all buildings, yet this courthouse, which people often attend following accidents, is inaccessible to those people, despite the fact that over £350,000 is being spent on its refurbishment. Although the repair of the courthouse may not be the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, it is unfair that money is being spent renovating Carlow courthouse without any attempt being made to cater for people in wheelchairs or who have any form of disability. I am asking the Minister to ensure that this work is not completed until the lift has been installed.
