Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Hoey and the witnesses from the Irish Wheelchair Association. They are here to present the access guidelines and I thank the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the committee members for facilitating this meeting. I attended the local launch of the guidelines in Thurles and met IWA members and staff, so I felt the committee would be supportive of this, as it has.

There is no doubt that this edition of the guidelines is a significant and detailed body of work that is available to the construction sector, architects, local authorities, public building bodies and those who seek to facilitate access to the built environment for those with limited mobility. Since the guidelines were first introduced in 2009, they have been used with regard to various organisations, structures and buildings, as indicated by Mr. Hoey, including Croke Park, the Aviva Stadium, Marks & Spencer, various local authorities, Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, the National Gallery and a host of other entities. Many projects have used the expertise and information available in the guidelines and worked with the Irish Wheelchair Association to improve accessibility for those with limited mobility. I endorse the guidelines and expect that this committee will champion them in future. I hope the committee will recommend access-proofing as public policy.

I thank the representatives of the Irish Wheelchair Association for the work they do throughout the country. It is a very significant and important organisation with 20,000 members, 2,000 members of staff and 57 centres nationwide. It has been in existence for 54 years and it does great work in local communities. I again thank the witnesses for attending and the committee members for extending the invitation.