Richard O'Donoghue urges grants for wheelchair accessibility
Richard O'Donoghue raised concerns about wheelchair users being excluded from social venues because many businesses lack accessible facilities, and asked whether grant aid exists to help adapt basics so people can socialise. He asked for liaison with the Minister for Health and engagement with communities and sports clubs to explore supports.
Issue raised
Richard O'Donoghue relayed the experience of Morris, a 25-year-old wheelchair user from Granagh who plays Munster Hurling, tag rugby and works in the HSE. Morris told him he has missed social events including 18th and 21st birthdays because non-public businesses lack basic accessibility, despite strong support from friends.
Question on grant aid
The deputy directly asked whether there is any grant aid available to help businesses provide the basics needed by wheelchair users so they can go out and socialise. He proposed liaison with Morris and others in similar situations to identify practical help.
Government response and local connection
The Taoiseach welcomed the community from Nachglaung and recounted a family connection to the rescue of Sean Hogan at Nachglaung. He acknowledged the seriousness of the point about wheelchair users and referenced recent engagement with the Department of Social Protection on employment supports.
Existing supports, sport inclusion and next steps
The Taoiseach noted that adaptations are supported in schools and through some local schemes that provide incentives for facilitation. He said sports grants could be expanded and praised clubs across codes, including the rugby union, for developing participation streams for people with additional needs. He indicated further engagement would be warranted to address gaps.
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Taoiseach, I'm here with many friends today, I have the Nach Langman Shade and I have Partico Dee here from Drummond, but I have Morris and Ellie above and they're both wheelchair users. And the question that Morris has, and Morris is from Granagh, they're both wheelchair users, and Morris is from Granagh. He plays Munster Hurling, he plays Tag Rugby, he works in the HSE, but Morris is 25. Morris said to me, he said, Richard, I've lost out in so much with my friends because the facilities aren't there for people that are wheelchair users. In public buildings, they are, but in other businesses, they're not. Now, he knows businesses are under massive pressure, but is there any grant aid that's there for the basics for people that are wheelchair users, that they can go out and socialise with their friends? He lost out in the 18th, 21st, all because, and his friends have been brilliant to him, and have been brilliant, but he wants to know, and the Minister for Health is here as well. Maybe we could liaison with the likes of Morris, see what we can do to help for people in that situation. Thank you. First of all, Deputy, thank you very much for raising the issue, and I welcome the community from Nachglaung. With a small connection, my grandfather was in the rescue party for Sean Hogan at Nachglaung, when he was rescued during the ambush at Nachglaung, and they took him away, and he was his century in the Galatia Mountains for a while. So, well, when you mentioned Nachglaung, I was reared on the stories around Nachglaung in my own family because of that. But to say that, I think you raised a more serious point in terms of wheelchair users, and I've had an event recently with the Department of Social Protection in terms of supporting on the employment front, and I think you make a fair point. We do, in schools and in some areas of life, we do support adaptation and local link as well, whereby we give incentives and supports in terms of facilitation for wheelchair users. I think in terms of the sports grants, there certainly is more we can do now, because to the credit of sports clubs, of all codes, they're now developing really good streams of participation in sport for those with additional needs. And that's very good that the rugby union is doing it. Thank you, Tisha. I think both further engagement would be warranted there. Deputy
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