Social Democrats local election candidates today commit to minimum targets for fully wheelchair accessible housing in all Council social housing projects and for people with disabilities working in Councils<\/p>\n
Social Democrats local election candidates today commit to minimum targets for fully wheelchair accessible housing in all Council social housing projects and for people with disabilities working in Councils<\/p>\n
The commitment is part of a set of pledges in the party\u2019s Accessibility Manifesto for Local Government\u00a0 <\/em>launched today in D\u00fan Laoghaire by Catherine Murphy TD and local election candidate Dave Quinn.<\/p>\n The Social Democrats\u2019 58 local election candidates have also signed up to be advocates for people with disabilities<\/strong> by fully endorsing manifesto commitments promoted by the Disability Federation of Ireland.<\/p>\n Catherine Murphy TD said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPeople with disabilities should be at the heart of all decisions. Our councillors will prioritise the needs of people with disabilities. Accessibility should be a given in our local plans, services and amenities, but this is just not the case. We want to put a renewed emphasis on this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Dave Quinn, who is a board member with Inclusion Ireland and a parent of a young adult with disabilities, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAccessibility and inclusivity should be embedded in every council\u2019s strategies and plans, including Development Plans. In my own constituency, we missed a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that Dun Laoghaire is an Age and Disability friendly town when we built the Lexicon Library. Over \u20ac34 million spent on it but it doesn\u2019t cater for the needs of people with physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have a live opportunity with the \u20ac10 million redevelopment of the Dun Laoghaire Public Baths to live up to the principles of inclusion which Ireland\u2019s public sector have agreed to with the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).”<\/p>\n The party\u2019s candidate for Clonakilty Skibereen, Evie Nevin said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAs a wheelchair user myself, I know first-hand how councils have neglected to put in place even the most rudimentary of supports to help integrate people with physical difficulties.<\/p>\n \u201cCouncils can do so much much more to make sure there is enough housing and parking for people with disabilities and that streetscapes are designed so that people with disabilities are not hindered by parked cars, bins, street lights and sign posts. There are a thousand small ways to make it easier for people with disabilities to fully participate in their local community.\u201d<\/p>\n The party\u2019s candidates\u2019 commitments include:<\/strong><\/p>\n