Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

-----they are looking at access all the time. Every planning application and every public realm plan is disability-proofed before it goes out for public consultation. The access group had oversight of those planning applications. That is where the strength lies at local government level, in how effective and active the access group is.

I take on board the Deputy's point that they are voluntary, but they have an important role to play along with an access officer, who is in place at a senior level within the local authority. They are all signatories of the Barcelona declaration. I wholeheartedly agree that public access and the public realm are good for our towns and cities because they include everybody. From that point of view, I suggest Cork perhaps look to counties such as Kilkenny, where work has been done and a good infrastructure, while not perfect, is in place.

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