People with Disabilities in Ireland
4th Floor Jervis House
Jervis Street
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 87 21 74 4
Fax: 01 87 21 77 1
Email: info@pwdi.ie
The Clare PwDI Network held its AGM on 3rd May at the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis.
Members were elected or nominated to eleven different roles of responsibility for the 2006/07 year:
Chairman - Tom King
Vice Chaiperson - Desiree Stevenson
Secretary - Jean Hanrahan
Assistant Secretary - Helen Kelly
Treasurer and national board representative - Gabriella Hanrahan
Membership Secretary - Patrick Barzill
PRO -Thomas Connole
Information Officer - Patrick Murphy
HSE Representative - Helen Kelly
Ennis Areas Network - Patrick Murphy
County Development Board/Health IG - Declan Considine
Chairman Tom King said after the meeting: “The Clare Network is lucky in having such a strong team of committed people working in the interests of all people with disabilities.” He indicated that there would be further positions to be filled, making the best use of the diverse range of skills of members.
Cork County PwDI Network met in Bandon in April. A large attendance heard presentations from PwDI Chief Executive, Michael Ringrose and Dermot Hayes, National Support Officer, who spoke of the need for the focus of the Network’s work to be centred on the needs of the ‘end user’.
As the County is such a large area it was agreed to hold the next meeting in the City of Cork, with the sister Network office being available for use. Local organiser, Kathryn Kingston, said that the Network is determined to grow its membership so that it can grow its impact.
Cork City AGM took place on May 10th at the Ambassador Hotel. The guest speaker was David Joyce, Cork City Council, who addressed the meeting on the issue of social inclusion. He invited the Network to participate in the current structures, an invitation that was warmly welcomed.
Dublin City Network has undertaken a survey on education and people with disabilities across National and Secondary Schools in the city.
The survey, the results of which are currently being compiled, is intended to:
• Establish links with school authorities to discuss/promote mutual interests;
• Highlight inadequacies in the educational system for people with disabilities;
• Promote disability awareness within the Primary/Post Primary framework;
• Ensure equality of opportunity for people with disabilities,affording them the opportunity to reach their full potential during their academic years.
Almost 300 schools were approached and over 180 of them responded within a week. The study will be presented to the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D. later in the year.
The Galway PwDI Network held its AGM on Saturday 27th May. Minster of State, Frank Fahy T.D. addressed the meeting and briefed members on the rollout of the Disability Act.
The Kerry PwDI Network held its AGM in the Brandon Hotel, Tralee on 27th May.
It was a well-attended meeting at which a wide range of topical issues was discussed.
The Network welcomed the first ever disability training programme delivered recently to Garda recruits at the Garda training college in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
In partnership with Dóchas - Dingle Men’s Action Group, the Network has recently applied to Comhairle for funding to employ four Advocacy workers to build on its existing work.
The Kildare PwDI Network held its AGM on June 14th, with the kind assistance of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), which provided the John Sullivan Resource Centre, Clane.
Chairperson Mary Walsh introduced the Network Committee members and opened the official business of the meeting.
Claire Kinneavy read a report by Anne Kelly on the Network’s activities. It gave an overview of the work undertaken on behalf of Kildare’s community of people with disabilities. Key elements highlighted included work on the Disability Sports Forum and the controversial Disability Act. The Disability Awareness Portfolio and the spin-offs from the launch of the Barcelona Declaration were also covered in the report.
It was reported that, as a result of meetings held with Kildare County Council Access Officer, Pat Cleary and his assistant, Niamh Corcoran, a draft document has been produced, on the subject of providing a better environment for everyone. The document is designed to introduce, for the first time, a safe, and uniform method of laying out pedestrian crossings, dedicated parking bays and footpath design throughout the county.
An open forum followed giving members the opportunity to raise issues. These included the whole area around accessible toilets. Toilets are not adequate, even in the finest hotels. With more and more people now using power chairs and scooters, this situation is becoming urgent. Claire emphasised the need for action at local level, citing a recent meeting with the Architect on the Newbridge Credit Union re-development project. It illustrated how, through meeting with the designers and architects, issues such as correctly designed toilets, good lighting, a lowered counter could all be incorporated into any public building.
A question and answer session followed with references being made to experiences in other European countries, particularly in Sweden. The American Disabilities Act was also discussed.
The UN Convention was then discussed before the meeting drew to a close.
In addition to the recent book launch, (see page1) and copious other activities, the Kilkenny Network also held its AGM recently. Officers elected on the night were Chairperson, Nancy Leahy, Secretary Marie Fogarty and Treasurer, Frank Power. Marie Fogarty is also the Network’s new national board representative.
The AGM was followed by a Karaoke night attended by over 70 people. It was a huge success with people with disabilities and able-bodied having a fun night out. It also proved very advantageous in terms of increased membership.
The Limerick PwDI Network held its AGM on May 30th at the South Court Hotel, Limerick City. Mr James O’Grady, head of the National Disability Unit of the HSE, addressed the meeting.
The issue of the lack of access in new schools was raised. It was pointed out that €277million is being spent in 2006 alone on the building programme for primary schools. While these buildings are being termed "accessible" this is a very limited requirement, with only one disabled toilet being built in each building. All new schools will have male and female toilets adjacent to each classroom, which are not accessible.
The Network called on the Minister for Education to rectify this situation, on the basis of equality of treatment. It was also pointed out that it is far less expensive to put in such facilities at the building stage, modification at a later point would expose taxpayers to unnecessary and avoidable costs.
The Longford Network is now up and running and looking forward to raising issues and making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in the county.
The Chairperson, Valerie Moran, has worked in the advocacy and disability sector for a number of years. The committee has identified a number of areas of work, including training in network development, teamwork, leadership and project development/management.
Represented on the committee are local disability group, NOININ, Older persons’ network and parents and friends of children with disabilities.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern T.D., was the special guest speaker at the 2006 AGM of the PwDI Louth Network, held in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk on 30th May. The Minister congratulated PwDI on its professionalism in lobbying on behalf of people with disabilities.
He also assured the meeting of the positive approach he and his Cabinet colleagues have to disability issues.
Minister Ahern's address was warmly welcomed and applauded by all present. He also took part in a question and answer session, with the main questions being around access, transport and employment.
Malachy Foots, the Network’s Secretary/PRO and national board member, in thanking the Minister, pointed out that also present, appropriately enough, was Nigel Brander who represents PwDI at the United Nations and FIMITIC, the international physical disability body.
The business of the AGM continued with a very comprehensive report from Malachy Foots on the activities of PwDI in Louth in the past year. Treasurer, Alan Maguire, presented the financial report for the year.
The election for the incoming committee was presided over by Nigel Brander, Network Development Officer. Elected were: Chairperson, Pat Kelly; Treasurer, Alan Maguire; Secretary/PRO, Malachy Foots and Committee: Kathleen Burns; Mark Jones; Sadie Treanor; Thomas Treanor and Hyacinth Moore.
The Waterford PwDI Network held a very successful EGM recently at which it welcomed new members. A wide range of issues was discussed, including the extraordinarily successful conference on ADHD, ADD, autism and other conditions, which the Network organised at Waterford Institute of Technology (see page 8). The Network is now represented on a very diverse range of bodies: Wesa; Waterford Sports Partnership; Waterford Community Forum; Deise Link; Waterford Childcare Committee; Regional Physical Sensory HSE; Local Physical Sensory & Learning Committee HSE; Waterford Leader Partnership; Waterford Area Partnership and Comhairle Advocacy.
The Wexford PwDI Network has finally secured an office, which will be opening in the near future. The address is: The Resource Centre, Spring Valley, Enniscorthy. The telephone number and opening times will be announced later. Look out for details on the national website: pwdi.ie
The Network held its AGM on 6th May. With a very large attendance, it proved to be a terrific success. The Network continued its representation on various committees, forums and partnerships, working to ensure that the voice of all people with disabilities, their families and carers in Wexford, is heard on all issues that affect their lives.
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