Wheelchair users find damaged footpaths difficult to navigate, says Waterford councillor

A Dungarvan councillor has highlighted the challenges faced by wheelchair users in one of the town’s estates.

Cllr Tom Cronin told members of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council at the September meeting that he has a case of a young man who is struggling to use the footpaths in Childers Estate because of the pavement condition.

“There are parts of it that are very bad. I have one case where a young man confined to a wheelchair and once he comes out of his own gate, he is finding it tough to get onto the footpaths.

“Some of them are broken up and some don’t have ramps for a wheelchair,” said Cllr Cronin.

Director of Roads Gabriel Hynes said that they were awaiting the completion of the public lighting tendering process.

“We will assess what footpaths will be dug up and reinstated. 

"So at that stage we might be able to combine some of our capital footpath programme, plus the funding for the public lighting to improve that situation,” said Mr Hynes.