Dr. Aideen Hartney:

I thank the Co-Chairman, Senator Carrigy, for the questions. I will hand over to Dr. Fitzpatrick, who has something to say about the census and Dr. Craddock, who has something to say about the sounds of electric vehicles and scooters. The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design is the only statutory centre of its type in the world. Even the National Disability Authority is unique. There is no comparable organisation in other European countries. Often disability advice and guidance is encompassed in a governmental department. We are very pleased to be able to be a resource to the Government in this respect.

The Co-Chairman, Senator Carrigy, asked where some of the sticking points are. There has a lot of progress recently in the take-up of advice and guidance and a willingness to implement and realise the rights of people with disabilities. Where we see most of the challenges arise is where there is a need for cross-departmental collaboration. These hurdles are still very difficult to overcome. Often these issues are tied to budget lines being siloed and no mechanisms in place to share budgets and share ways of working to overcome some of the disability challenges that can cross the entire span of life.

On the request to have autism friendly or disability friendly towns, we have worked on a tool with the NTA and other stakeholders. This is the walkability audit tool we have developed. We piloted it in Kilrush and the local authority was able to use the findings of the audit to secure funding to make a large number of improvements in the town. It is now very much more disability friendly. This is something that could assist the Co-Chairman, Senator Carrigy, in this quest.