'Hugely progressive and positive day for Louth' - Council appoints Disability Access Officer
Louth County Council announced the appointment of Susan Deery as its new Access Officer
Dundalk councillor Maeve Yore has said the appointment of a Disability Access Officer by Louth County Council is a "progressive and positive day for Louth".
Louth County Council announced it has appointed Susan Deery to the role. Ms Deery had previously been the local authority's Irish Language Officer.
Cllr Yore previously tabled a motion at the April meeting of Louth County Council calling for the local authority to appoint an access and inclusion officer.
All public bodies are required to appoint at least one access officer under Section 26 of the Disability Act 2005.
Cllr Yore said access officers "provide effective guidance, ensure compliance, promote equality, dignity and social inclusion for all people with disabilities."
"This is a hugely progressive and positive day for Louth, and in 21st century Ireland the time has way passed that people with disabilities are treated as 2nd class citizens.
I look forward to working with our new access officer with disability groups, organisations and individuals across our county," she said.
Cllr Yore had raised concerns at the meeting that some projects across the county did not consider people with disabilities.
She said a public car park which had recently been resurfaced, installed bollards on the passenger side of a disabled parking bay, which meant a person with disabilities couldn’t get out of the car if they were not driving.
The Dundalk councillor also said Louth County Council had missed a "huge opportunity" to include a changing facility and wheelchair toilet in the Drogheda Civic Office.
She said such facilities should include a bed, hoist and toilet, so people getting changed didn't "have to lie on a dirty floor".
Cllr Yore also said it is important access officers have adequate training in communication, sign language and braille.
Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall supported the motion and said members of the Louth Disability Forum have said it has been "difficult to liaise with Louth County Council in the past".
She said: "13% of people in Louth have a disability and I think if we did have somebody who was up in front as an access officer, like we have an age-friendly officer, we would have more seating, more varied seating and things would be put into plans for example, on the PANCR (Port Access Northern Cross Route).
People with disabilities need somewhere to sit, simple things. Sometimes just the simple things make such a difference."
Mayor Hall also called on Louth County Council to publish an annual report on its efforts to "improve access and disability" in the county.
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