Services for Persons with a DisabilityAccess Awareness Campaign
02 December 2009Galway City Council is launching an access awareness advertising campaign to coincide with 'The International Day of Persons with Disabilities' on December 3rd 2009.
The campaign will include the distribution of leaflets, display of posters on billboards and bus shelters and advertisements in newspapers and on local radio.
The aim of the campaign is to raise access awareness generally and also to focus on two main issues – the misuse of accessible (blue badge) parking spaces and parking in unapproved locations such as footpaths.
This type of driver behaviour is of serious concern to persons with disabilities according to Eithne Murphy, the Council's Access Projects Officer. She explained, "Our statistics show that there is consistent abuse of the accessible car parking spaces in the city and a number of wheelchairs users, in particular, have also brought it to our attention. There is an €80 fine for such an offence however there is still a number of people who continue to abuse them". Ms. Murphy added 'Parking on the footpath is another area that has been highlighted by the local disability groups. This often forces persons to walk on the road which can be particularly dangerous for persons with vision impairments and limited mobility'.
The campaign is being funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and is supported by the Local Disability Advocacy Group 'Access For All'. Both Galway City Council and Access For All encourage drivers to be considerate when they park.
Galway City Council welcomes all comments on this campaign, which can be directed to: eithne.murphy@galwaycity.ie
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Feachtas Feasachta Rochtana
Tá Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe ag seoladh feachtas fógraíochta feasachta rochtana ag an tráth céanna le 'Lá Idirnáisiúnta do Dhaoine faoi Mhíchumas' an 3ú Nollaig 2009.
Leis an bhfeachtas, scaipfear bileoga eolais, cuirfear póstaeir in airde ar chláir fógraí agus ar scáthláin bus agus cuirfear fógraí i nuachtáin agus ar an raidió áitiúil.
Is é aidhm an fheachtais aird a tharraingt ar rochtain go ginearálta agus díriú ar dhá phríomhshaincheist freisin – an mí-úsáid a bhaintear as spásanna páirceála inrochtana (suaitheantais ghorma) agus páirceáil in áiteanna nach bhfuil ceadaithe mar chosáin.
Is ábhar imní tromchúiseach é an cineál iompair sin ó thiománaithe do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas dár le Eithne Murphy, Oifigeach Tionscadail Rochtana na Comhairle. Mhínigh sise go léiríonn staitisticí na Comhairle go mbíonn mí-úsáid á bhaint as spásanna páirceála inrochtana sa chathair go síoraí seasta agus thug roinnt úsáideoirí cathaoireacha rothaí, go háirithe, an t-ábhar imní sin ar aird na Comhairle. Gearrtar fíneáil €80 do chion mar sin, ach leanann roinnt daoine áfach á mí-úsáid. Deir Eithne Murphy Uasal freisin gur réimse eile é páirceáil ar an gcosán a thug grúpaí áitiúla faoi mhíchumas ar aird na Comhairle. Cuireann iompar mar sin brú ar dhaoine siúl ar an mbóthar agus is dainséar é sin do dhaoine le lagamhairc agus a mbíonn deacrachtaí siúil acu.
Tá an feachtas á mhaoiniú ag an Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil agus táthar ag fáil tacaíochta ón nGrúpa Comhairleach Míchumais Áitiúil ‘Access for All’. Spreagann Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus Access For All araon tiománaithe a bheith tuisceanach agus iad i mbun páirceála.
Fáilteoidh Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe roimh gach tuairim maidir leis an bhfeachtas seo agus is féidir gach comhfhreagras a sheoladh chuig: eithne.murphy@galwaycity.ie
