Dr. Aideen Hartney:

I thank the Deputy for the question. Meaningful engagement is so important and it is so important it is planned for and the time necessary for that kind of engagement is built into any processes. In our work and advice, we have set out some guidance on that but we have found people have not planned for it adequately. I am going to make a quick point on the data even though the Deputy did not ask it of me. Then I will hand to Ms O'Reilly on the walkability. There are ways of crosscutting the data in the census to get some estimates but it is true there is not an empirical figure out there. One of the things we have been working with the CSO to request and advise on is a post-census survey called the national disability survey. One was done in 2006 and we have been approaching the office to see if one can be done after the 2026 census. It would be very useful and valuable in capturing some of that information. All the information we use on wheelchair and assistive technology usage unfortunately dates from the 2006 survey, so it is getting quite old and long in the tooth now. If the committee was able to join in the recommendations that such a survey would be useful it would be fabulous.

Ms O'Reilly worked on the walkability audit so I will hand over to her.