A significant red flag concerning the new Portlaoise Library has been raised by a local County Councillor at the Portlaoise Municipal District meeting this week.
Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley has told the Council that the elevator in the library is not suitable for the vast majority of wheelchair users.
It was confirmed that the elevator does indeed comply with the building regulations, and a disability access certificate has been granted for the building.
However, Cllr Dwane Stanley said this is absolutely false.
Cllr Dwane Stanley said she was alerted to an issue with the lift one week before Christmas, but has since seen emails which prove this issue was originally flagged in August of 2023.
These emails between the Wheelchair Association and the Director of Services at Laois County Council outline that users of electric wheelchairs cannot access the elevator.
According to the Irish Wheelchair Association, this accounts for between 80% and 95% of all wheelchair users.
“That means if you’re in an electric wheelchair, that lift is not accessible to you,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
“Part of the response (provided by the Council) says that regulations were followed, but there are also guidelines from the Irish Wheelchair Association – these guidelines were ignored.
“There’s guidelines and regulations, but there’s no common sense. Common sense is just completely missing.
“Electric wheelchairs give added independence to wheelchair users, but they are now excluded from going upstairs in the new library.
“As far as I am aware, the shaft in the lift is a concrete structure, and cannot be changed. So I don’t know what can be done.”
Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy and Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald shared Cllr Dwane Stanley’s outrage and urged the County Council to act.
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