Disabled parking in Cork
Deputy Gould raises problems with disabled parking after Cork city centre pedestrianisation and asks the Government to intervene if local authorities fail. The Tánaiste says city-centre changes are generally for local authorities, but disabled access must still be protected.
The programme for Government states that the Government is very serious about making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. I am not sure if the Tánaiste is aware but there have been serious issues in Cork in respect of disabled parking. Cork city has rolled out an initiative to pedestrianise some streets to get more people to dine outdoors, visit restaurants and utilise the city centre. This is a very good initiative and I welcome it. However, it has caused serious issues with disabled parking spaces. Many have been moved. There are 100 disabled parking spaces in Cork, some in areas that are not suitable. People cannot access them.
When people get out of their car, they are on a roadway or cannot get onto a footpath. What will the Government do to oversee the approach being taken by local authorities to disabled parking and accessibility for people with disabilities? We wish to support disabled people and we need the Government to address this issue.
Comment on this
Are councillors not supposed to oversee local authorities, rather than the Tánaiste doing so?
Comment on this
I am trying to ensure adequate and proper disabled parking spaces are provided. I am asking the Government to step in if that is not being done locally.
Comment on this
One of the silver linings to the very dark cloud which is this pandemic is that it is causing us to reimagine our cities and city centres and, to a certain extent, to reclaim the streets for cycling, pedestrians and things such as outdoor dining, which the Deputy mentioned, notwithstanding the often inclement weather. In general, the Government leaves these matters to local authorities. It is appropriate for it to do so. The people who know Cork best are those on Cork City Council. The same principle applies in Dublin and other parts of the country. In order to ensure that disabled people are not shut out of these new cities, because that would be a terrible thing, the Department of Transport could work on some form of guidelines. I will ensure the Deputy's comments are passed on to that Department.