What will election candidates do for people with disabilities in Waterford?
IWA member Ann O'Grady at the Hustings
Access, transport and housing issues dominated discussions at the Local Election Hustings, hosted by the Irish Wheelchair Association at their premises in Waterford last week.
Attended by nine of the local election candidates, the event gave people with disabilities the opportunity to have their say on the issues that matter to them, and to let those seeking a seat on Waterford City and County Council know about them.
The candidates who attended were Maolíosa Ní Chléirigh (GP), Patrick Curtin (PBP), Frank Conway (IND), Darren Ryan (IND), Monica Murphy (FG), Cllr Thomas Phelan (LAB), Cllr Seamus Ryan (LAB), Mairead McKnight (LAB) and Cllr John Pratt (LAB).
Issues raised included the need for a crossing at the top of Cleaboy Road to facilitate people who use Irish Wheelchair Association Services when they get on and off the bus.
Members also cited that Waterford is not very accessible for wheelchair users, and the urgent need for accessible transport from villages into Waterford City or Dungarvan and around the local areas was highlighted.
For people with disabilities living in Waterford, housing, as is the case nationally, is also a massive issue, and there is a severe lack of wheelchair liveable houses to buy.
Member Ann O’Grady who attended the Hustings said: “I want to hear what candidates are going to do to help disabled people if elected instead of hindering them for a change.
"I would like to see the council facilitating more car parking for people with disabilities and give some thought to traffic lights for wheelchair users crossing the road. When I am in my manual chair on a wide road, I usually only get halfway across the road before the lights change.”
The Hustings was chaired by IWA’s National Advocacy Manager Joan Carthy who said: “It’s important that people with disabilities are part of the conversation in the run-up to polling day on June 7.
"This platform gives candidates the chance to outline what they will do to improve life for people with disabilities if elected but also gives our members the opportunity to advocate for the issues that really affect them.”
