Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 6 December 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters

Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion

Mr. Michael Hegarty:

I will answer the Senator's question about the community service programme, which is for local community halls and sports and social activity clubs. Different NGOs come together to share their information about what they can do to support people with disabilities. Most of them have a disability inclusion officer, who may be a person with disabilities, to work together to share what they can offer and what others can offer them. They come together collectively. The sports capital grant, which I referenced earlier, and other grant schemes, are pushing social inclusion because I am led to believe that the waiting times to access those grants if they include people with disabilities are quite high. Whether sports agencies want to go that direction or not, they know that if they want the funding to deliver on their programmes, they have to include people with disabilities. That is the way we should go and that is where the community services programme comes together to share information.

We are an approved housing body, as opposed to a housing authority. A number of other agencies throughout the country are also approved housing bodies. The Senator asked about supporting the Travelling community of which she is a member. Perhaps there is something with which we can help. I will offer up Mr. Doyle in that regard because he is my expert on housing. We will do anything we can. Collectively, marginalised communities will stand taller together and there is no doubt about that.

I will defer to Ms O'Shea, who is an occupational therapist, on the question of LED lighting. She might have a little insight in that regard. It would not be my area.

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