Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
197. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action that will be taken by his Department for any public body or any publicly funded body under his aegis which is non-compliant with accessibility requirements under the 2005 disability and equality legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54662/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Act 2005 provides for accessible public buildings, insofar as is practicable, as well as accessible services and information. In addition, the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education. They cover the nine grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community.
Both pieces of legislation include complaints mechanisms for those who consider that they have not been able to access the relevant services. The National Disability Authority (NDA) have prepared codes of practice, under the Disability Act 2005, on the accessibility of public services and information and on accessible heritage sites.
The NDA have recently commenced the drafting of a code of practice on accessible public buildings. The Workplace Relations Commission is the adjudicator in cases under the Equal Status Acts.
