COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 08, 2019
QUESTION NO. 46
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to detail actions he is taking to support the "Enough is Enough, Every Voice Counts," Campaign, does he plan to convey to Government our support for the UN Convention on the rights of persons with a disability and will he make a statement in the matter.
REPLY:
The “Enough is Enough, Every Voice Counts”, campaign which was initiated in Tallaght and has now been extended nationally, focusses on:
- securing the improvement of assessment of needs, and education services for all disabled children (with a particular focus on those with Autism Spectrum Disorders);
- creating awareness of the needs of people with hidden impairments such as autism, Asperger’s and so on.
UN CRPD Article 7 - Children with disabilities, and Article 24 – Education, are particularly relevant to the campaign. South Dublin County Council is committed to working with, and within, the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). There are 50 articles in the UN CRPD which deal with a diverse range of issues most of which relate in varying degrees to the role and remit of a local authority. Four articles which have particular significance for the Council are:
Article 9 – Accessibility
Article 19 – Living independently and being included in the community
Article 21 – Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information
Article 30 – Participation in Cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport
South Dublin County Council takes many actions to meet our responsibilities under relevant national disability, human rights and equality legislation, policy, and the UN CRPD. These actions include:
- Council policies and plans equality, access and plain English proofed on an ongoing basis;
- Planned participation in Make Way Day of action (Thursday, 26 September 2019), to promote safe pedestrian access, free from obstacles such as wheelie bins, advertising boards, temporary street furniture and vehicles on pavements;
- Programme of access awareness raising events and activities during National Accessibility Week 2019;
- Provide ongoing secretariat support to the South Dublin County Disability Advisory and Consultative Panel;
- Changing Places accessible toilet facility included in the design for Lucan Swimming Pool;
- Changing places accessible toilet facility to be installed in County Hall;
- Autism friendly actions within South Dublin Libraries;
- Full time Disability Sports Inclusion Officer appointed;
- Ongoing implementation of the Council’s Literacy friendly Action Plan;
- Ongoing implementation of the SDCC Housing Strategic Plan for Disabled People.
The Council’s Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer will make contact with representatives of the “Enough is Enough, Every Voice Counts”, campaign to promote an understanding of the access needs of people with hidden impairments, during National Accessibility Week 2019.