Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the importance of accessibility and of this Bill. Senator Clonan is raising a lot of things we in government are reviewing and looking at as well. I wanted to highlight the work at regional level that we see across the likes of Roscommon and Galway. I ask the Minister of State to address this in her response but I wish to highlight the just transition programme currently available to a number of counties in the midlands, as well as to the likes of Ballinasloe municipal district in Galway. One of its elements is for businesses to enable them to look at accessibility. Something we see, even here in Leinster House as an example, is the installation of a ramp to be able to access the gallery of former taoisigh.Representatives of the Roscommon accessibility group came up only two weeks ago and there are certain challenges in respect of physical accessibility.

I highlight that just transition funding is available for enterprises and businesses. Perhaps the Minister of State has some thoughts about how we can encourage groups to apply for funding. The deadline for funding is the end of this year.

I thank the accessibility groups which did an awful lot of work. We have seen the importance of the advocacy of accessibility groups when it comes to our towns. We are seeing a lot of town centre first funding for the likes of Strokestown and Roscommon, as Senator Murphy knows well. It is about how we make our footpaths accessible and include people in the planning process around the town centre first funding and follow-on funding through the rural regeneration and development fund or the urban regeneration and development fund for the development of our towns. It can sometimes be a simple thing, such as where we locate an accessible parking spot. In some of the toilets in Leinster House, for example, there is not enough space or capacity for people to turn around. User feedback is very important. I highlight that there are challenges in rural areas. There are financial supports for businesses that may wish to avail of them in order to support all customers and to make their businesses more accessible.