Draft City Development Plan - Access for all

PAGE 66 (Page 64 in actual plan), under 3.2 Housing Strategy: Housing for Specialist Needs: The need to facilitate independent living and supported community based living with maximum independence and choice for people with disabilities, in accordance with the UNCRPD, is supported by the Council through specialist housing provision and specific housing adaptation grants to enable people with a physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability to make modifications and adaptation to their homes.

PAGE 68 (Page 66 in actual plan), under Policy 3.1 Housing Strategy: 12. Proactively promote the specific housing needs of persons with disabilities within City Council and AHB housing developments in order to meet the demand for such special needs accommodation in the interests of social inclusion and in accordance with the UNCRPD.

PAGE 75 (Page 73 in actual plan), under Streets and Movement: Connectivity and Permeability: Provide universal convenient access to places, particularly to schools and places of work. Routes within the area should be accessible for everyone including the needs of all users, including the

PAGE 76 (Page 74 in actual plan), under Universal Design: The application of universal design principles and lifetime adaptability in the design and layout of new development is more inclusive and future proofs housing for changes in individual lifecycles. This approach assumes that every person experiences barriers, reduced functioning, or some form of disability, either temporary or permanent, at some stage in life. It seeks to make public places and the built environment accessible, understood and used comfortably and with minimum effort and to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. Best practice guidance including Buildings for Everyone (2012) by the NDA provides guidance on the design of accessible spaces. Further, the promotion of universal design is a general obligation under Article 4 (part f) of the UNCRPD.

PAGE 189 (Page 187 in actual plan), under 7.3 Inclusive City:

(PLEASE NOTE: The UNCRPD, ratified by Ireland in 2018, is more timely and far reaching than the 1995 Barcelona Declaration, which GCC adopted in 2002, and should be mentioned first.)

People with disabilities: Galway City Council is committed to working with people with disabilities and their representative groups to facilitate their access to housing, transport, employment and the built environment. Ireland’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018 places an obligation on the Irish state to ensure people with disabilities have equal civil and political, social and economic rights across all sectors. Per these obligations, the Council will work with relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the UNCRPD at the local level. In addition, in June 2002, the Council adopted the Barcelona Declaration of 1995, which promotes universal access in the public realm, public buildings and services and encourages participation of people with disabilities in the social, economic and cultural life of the city. Galway City Council supports the installation of Changing Places facilities (specialised toilet facilities) in the City and particularly in recreational and amenity spaces. In addition, Galway City Council supports and encourages the provision of these facilities in any new building developments where the public have access in large numbers, such as, educational establishments, cultural buildings, health facilities and sport and leisure facilities. Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018. This places an obligation on the Irish state to ensure people with disabilities have equal civil and political, social and economic rights across all sectors. Having regarding to obligations under the UNCRPD the Council will work with relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the UNCRPD at local level. The Council will continue to support the development of a high quality, inclusive, accessible and affordable housing, transport, employment, built environment and public realm though the implementation of disability legislation, the building regulations, Universal Design Guidelines and the Galway City Public Realm Strategy.

PAGE 192 (Page 190 in actual plan), under Policy 7.3 Inclusive City:

2. Proactively promote the various aims of the Council to give effect to the UNCRPD as well as the Barcelona Declaration and support universal design principles to make Galway a more accessible and disability friendly city.

7. Co-operate with the Access for All Network and other organisations representing people with disabilities to provide equal access for all citizens particularly in the area of housing, transport, employment, built environment and the public realm within the city.