COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 23rd, 2017

MOTION NO.12

MOTION: Councillor M. Duff

That this Council calls on the Chief Executive to take the lead in making South Dublin County a Disability Friendly County, to promote a campaign to make the public and the business community aware of the dangers caused by obstacles, such as cars parked on footpaths, bicycles chained to railings, and other thoughtlessly placed items that impede the use of our footpaths for wheelchair users or people suffering from  visual impairment. To consider the roll out of a South Dublin County "My Way" campaign and to consult with all major stakeholders, including Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Council of the Blind regarding the possibility of holding an annual "Make Way Day" in South Dublin County. 

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council has been committed to the issues of access and equality since the Council was established in 1995. In 2013 the Town of Tallaght was awarded an EU Access City Award Special Mention for the accessibility of its facilities and services. The Council continues to provide strong commitment to these matters, for example it has introduced the innovative Jobot’s Access All Areas accessibility game, and online video access guides to key Council facilities. It has overseen facilitating the establishment of the South Dublin County Disability Advisory and Consultative Panel, and the delivery of a significant programme of access works across the County.

Illegal, thoughtless and irresponsible road and pavement use impacts negatively on all people in our community. However, it has a particularly negative impact on wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, blind and visually impaired people and those with children in pushchairs or prams.

Such road and pavement use puts all people in danger. Often people are left with no option but to go out onto the road to get past pavement obstructions which puts both pedestrians and motorists at risk.

The Councils Land Use, Planning and Transportation Directorate is responsible for enforcement actions promoting responsible road and street use and parking. These include implementation of the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), the issue of T2 licences, liaison and working in co-operation with An Garda Síochána particularly in relation to vehicles for sale on public footpaths and resolving illegal use of public paths such as the placing furniture (for example tables and chairs), advertising and items for sale on pavements. The directorate also manage an ongoing programme of footpath repair and path dishing to provide safe and accessible pedestrian routes for all across the County.

Other actions also taken to promote environmental accessibility and safety for disabled people and those with mobility or visual impairments include participation in the National Accessibility Week Park Right campaigns and circulation of relevant awareness raising posters and video.

The South Dublin County Disability Advisory and Consultative Panel is participating in the “Make Way Day” initiative through use of the stickers that were issued. The Panel is a partnership between South Dublin County Council and local disabled people. Its’ remit is to advise the Council on key issues that are relevant to the lives and interests of disabled people in the County; and to have both an advisory role and a consultative role (as appropriate) to developments in the County that are led by the Council. All members have a personal or professional interest in making sure that the facilities, services and activities that the County Council deliver are designed to be accessible to the entire community. The Panel is comprised of individual disabled people who are residents of South Dublin County who are also members of, or active in various organisations such as DeafHear.ie, Lucan Disability Action Group, National Council for the Blind of Ireland, Cheeverstown House, South Dublin County Partnership Disability Interest Group, Inclusion Ireland, and Stewarts Care.

There is an incredible wealth of knowledge and personal experience within the Panel which provides an invaluable resource for the Council to draw upon. Three members of the Panel recently accompanied the Council’s Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer to a meeting of similar Access groups from the east and midlands regions. The future of the initiative formed part of the day’s discussions.

The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) are currently considering how to move forward with the “Make Way Day” initiative. The Council’s Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer will remain in contact with DFI regarding future “Make Way Day” plans and actions and will provide further updates when a proposed plan of action has been communicated by DFI. However, it is likely that a specific annual date for “Make Way Day” will be chosen and all local authorities will be asked to observe it.

A separate but relevant campaign that was initiated by the Irish Wheelchair Association in collaboration with An Garda Síochána is ‘Operation Enable’. This campaign focusses on promoting responsible parking and the appropriate and legal use of the EU Disabled Persons Parking Card. The Councils Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer is currently collaborating with representatives from the ‘Operation Enable’ team to develop relevant events for National Accessibility Week 2017.