French national appears in court charged with causing fatal Mulranny road collision
Neill O’Neill
ON the same day – last Thursday – that 25-year-old Yvonne Moran from Rosturk was laid to rest in her native village of Mulranny, a 27-year-old French national appeared in Westport District Court charged with dangerous driving causing her death.
Mr Remi Duclos appeared before Judge Mary Devins charged contrary to Section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act (as amended) 1961. He was bailed on his own bond of €750 to appear in court again on November 6. Gardaí requested this time to complete their investigations into the accident.
The court was told Mr Duclos, who has an address listed at 3 The Courtyard, Park Inn Hotel, Mulranny, remains in temporary employment at the hotel.
He was granted legal aid and told that he must sign on in Westport Garda Station once a week until his next court appearance.
Ms Moran died in Mayo General Hospital at 9.20pm on Monday, September 15 last, less than 24 hours after she was injured in a collision at Rosgalive, outside Mulranny village, one mile from her home.
Judge Mary Devins offered her sympathy, and that of the court, to Ms Moran’s family, and to An Garda Síochána, of which the deceased was a member based in Ballymote Co Sligo.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Westport Town Council
Westport Town Council has called on the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD to protect the Cregganbaun and Doolough region from mining.
A motion proposed by Labour's Cllr Keith Martin and supported by Sinn Fein's Cllr Dave Keating was adopted unanimously by the council at this week's December meeting of Westport Town Council.
In the resolution the area is described as one of "great national and international significance as an environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area" and highlighted the intrinsic value of the area as a tourism feature.
The resolution also lends its support to the concerns of local groups opposed to the Mining.
Speaking on the motion Cllr Martin said that the motion spoke for itself adding that he believed that the proposed for a small scale "seven dwarf type mine" was a front for the introduction of whole scale mining in the area. Cllr Dave Keating said that the proposal by the mining company was for a tourism mine which he described as an Oxymoron.
At the request of Cllr Martin a copy of the resolution is being sent by Westport's Town Clerk to Minister Ryan.
a) That this Council, whilst welcoming sustainable and environmentally friendly development, industry and the harnessing of natural resources, which leads to job creation and investment in and around Westport, shares the concerns of the interested parties such as Mayo Environmental Group and Westport Tourism Organisation in relation to the proposal to mine for gold in the Cregganbaun and Doolough region and calls upon the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD to protect this area of great national and international significance as an environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area with a massive intrinsic tourism value.
A motion proposed by Labour's Cllr Keith Martin and supported by Sinn Fein's Cllr Dave Keating was adopted unanimously by the council at this week's December meeting of Westport Town Council.
In the resolution the area is described as one of "great national and international significance as an environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area" and highlighted the intrinsic value of the area as a tourism feature.
The resolution also lends its support to the concerns of local groups opposed to the Mining.
Speaking on the motion Cllr Martin said that the motion spoke for itself adding that he believed that the proposed for a small scale "seven dwarf type mine" was a front for the introduction of whole scale mining in the area. Cllr Dave Keating said that the proposal by the mining company was for a tourism mine which he described as an Oxymoron.
At the request of Cllr Martin a copy of the resolution is being sent by Westport's Town Clerk to Minister Ryan.
a) That this Council, whilst welcoming sustainable and environmentally friendly development, industry and the harnessing of natural resources, which leads to job creation and investment in and around Westport, shares the concerns of the interested parties such as Mayo Environmental Group and Westport Tourism Organisation in relation to the proposal to mine for gold in the Cregganbaun and Doolough region and calls upon the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD to protect this area of great national and international significance as an environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area with a massive intrinsic tourism value.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Councillors walk out of Ballina meeting
Councillors walk out of Ballina meeting
TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2008
Councillors walk out of Ballina Parkside residents’ meeting
Anna-Marie Flynn
TWO town councillors dramatically walked out of a meeting between Clúid Housing Association and Ballina’s Parkside Residents’ Committee last week in a move described as ‘totally and completely unprofessional’.
In the latest twist in the proposed €11.5 million regeneration project, an update meeting between residents and Clúid personnel became heated after an initial question and answer session, during which residents queried issues raised at a Council meeting of October 15 last, Cllr Mary Kelly suggested the format was not appropriate.
During the session, the frustration of residents was relayed with one tenant going so far as to walk out of the meeting amid claims he was ‘fed up with constant promises’.
Cllr Kelly told Residents’ Chairperson Jean Brown: “You need to start looking forward and not back. This format is not going to work, with people going back on things that have been said before. It’s time to move forward and try and overcome this,” she said.
Ms Brown rejected the comments made by Cllr Kelly that residents were ‘always looking backwards’.
Cllr Frances McAndrew said she agreed ‘whole-heartedly’ with the comments of Cllr Kelly, saying a lot could be achieved if the parties looked towards future progress. Both councillors left the meeting together after speaking to the floor.
Cllr Johnnie O’Malley did not take the same line laid down by his party colleague Cllr McAndrew, and told the meeting he felt the ‘frank exchange of views’ was a necessary part of the process. “People have to let off steam. These people are representing other residents and have to vent the feelings the others have expressed. Clúid has lost credibility in this. The residents could not speak in the Council chamber and they have a right to do so here,” he said.
Speaking after the meeting, Jean Brown told The Mayo News she felt the walk-out by the two councillors was ‘totally and completely unprofessional’. “They should stand down as public representatives if they are not prepared to represent the people fairly. As part of our meeting we were well within our rights to question Clúid on matters arising from their meeting with the Council and we did so in the format we chose.”
Ms Brown also extended thanks to Cllrs Peter Clarke, Mark Winters, Padraig Moore and Johnnie O’Malley for ‘constant assistance and respect shown to us’
TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2008
Councillors walk out of Ballina Parkside residents’ meeting
Anna-Marie Flynn
TWO town councillors dramatically walked out of a meeting between Clúid Housing Association and Ballina’s Parkside Residents’ Committee last week in a move described as ‘totally and completely unprofessional’.
In the latest twist in the proposed €11.5 million regeneration project, an update meeting between residents and Clúid personnel became heated after an initial question and answer session, during which residents queried issues raised at a Council meeting of October 15 last, Cllr Mary Kelly suggested the format was not appropriate.
During the session, the frustration of residents was relayed with one tenant going so far as to walk out of the meeting amid claims he was ‘fed up with constant promises’.
Cllr Kelly told Residents’ Chairperson Jean Brown: “You need to start looking forward and not back. This format is not going to work, with people going back on things that have been said before. It’s time to move forward and try and overcome this,” she said.
Ms Brown rejected the comments made by Cllr Kelly that residents were ‘always looking backwards’.
Cllr Frances McAndrew said she agreed ‘whole-heartedly’ with the comments of Cllr Kelly, saying a lot could be achieved if the parties looked towards future progress. Both councillors left the meeting together after speaking to the floor.
Cllr Johnnie O’Malley did not take the same line laid down by his party colleague Cllr McAndrew, and told the meeting he felt the ‘frank exchange of views’ was a necessary part of the process. “People have to let off steam. These people are representing other residents and have to vent the feelings the others have expressed. Clúid has lost credibility in this. The residents could not speak in the Council chamber and they have a right to do so here,” he said.
Speaking after the meeting, Jean Brown told The Mayo News she felt the walk-out by the two councillors was ‘totally and completely unprofessional’. “They should stand down as public representatives if they are not prepared to represent the people fairly. As part of our meeting we were well within our rights to question Clúid on matters arising from their meeting with the Council and we did so in the format we chose.”
Ms Brown also extended thanks to Cllrs Peter Clarke, Mark Winters, Padraig Moore and Johnnie O’Malley for ‘constant assistance and respect shown to us’
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
"Get Out - Stay Out"
"Get Out - Stay Out"
This scenario card lesson plan is designed to teach early elementary school children about fire escape planning and practice in the school setting and the importance of escape planning for children with disabilities.
Each scenario includes a different disability and provides an opportunity for school children to discuss how to assist others or be assisted in escaping. The scenarios are pictorial and can be used in a variety of activities including role playing, sequencing, and story starters.
Materials
• Sequence cards (set of 5 – laminated, if possible). Place each set of cards in a manila envelope
Objectives
• Students will be able to state why it is important to have and practice a fire escape plan for persons of all ages and abilities.
• Students will be able to identify the sound of the fire alarm or the visual alert from a strobe alarm, at least two ways out of the classroom and the outside meeting place at school.
• Students will be able to describe at least one way they could help someone with disabilities get out of the school when the fire alarm sounds or flashes.
Procedure
1. Write the word “Plan” on a chalkboard or whiteboard.
2. Ask students “what is a plan?” (A plan is like a road map. It tells you where to go and gives you ways to get to where you want to go.)
3. Explain that it is important to have a plan for how to get out of every room in the school.
4. Ask who knows what a fire alarm sounds like? Some fire alarms don’t make a sound. Instead, these alarms flash so that persons who are not able to hear are still able to know there is an emergency and that they need to respond. Have students demonstrate the sound of a fire alarm. Also demonstrate the flash of a strobe light. What does it mean? (There is a fire or an emergency – get out)
5. Review how you would get out of your classroom and other areas of the school such as the cafeteria, library or bathroom, or down the stairs. Talk about how a child in a wheelchair would be able to be transferred to a rescue mat or rescue chair for a safe evacuation down the stairs. Talk about how important it is for the students to wear or carry their medical passports (medical records on a flash drive) during an emergency evacuation. Identify two ways out of every room in case of an emergency. Doors should be closed after everyone has left the room. Practice the escape plan from start to finish at your outside meeting place. Practice alternative escape routes in case the primary exit is blocked.
6. Ask why is it important to have an outside meeting place. (So that you know that everyone is safe) Return to the classroom.
7. If someone could not hear the fire alarm, how could we help the person if the fire alarm sounds? (Use sign language or point to the alarm to tell them that we need to get out and then be a buddy to help them get out) . Another course of action would be to have strobe alarms installed at your school so that children who have a hearing disability also would be alerted.
If you are with someone in a wheelchair and the alarm sounds or flashes, how could you help the person? (Remember to always ask the person in the wheelchair if he or she needs help being pushed before doing so. If a teacher, teacher’s aid or personal care assistant already is pushing a person in a wheelchair, ask if you can be of help to make certain they get to the meeting place. You may be able to hold a door open so the wheelchair can get through.)
If someone can’t see and the alarm sounds, how could we help the person? (Have the person hold your elbow and guide the person out of the classroom. Tell the person where you are going and what is ahead so they understand what you are doing.)
If someone has broken their leg and is using crutches and the fire alarm sounds, how could we help the person? (Help the person pick up their crutches, hold a door open for the person.)
If someone is not feeling well and the fire alarm sounds, how could we help the person? (Hold the person’s hand and help him or her leave the classroom. The teacher or school nurse will be bringing medicines and medical equipment that children need once they get to the meeting place.)
8. It’s important to know that sometimes we might need help to get out. Sometimes it’s the teacher who will help. Students can help, too – holding doors, being a good buddy, and being friendly. Who else could be a helper at school? (school nurse, janitor, principal, guidance counselor, librarian, bus driver, etc.)
9. Use the sequence cards to review how students and grown-ups can help each other during a fire drill.
10. Use the sequence cards as visuals as students recite the following poem:
If the fire alarm sounds or flashes, I know what to do.
I can be a helper or you can help me, too.
I know the plan. It’s easy as can be.
If the alarm sounds or flashes, I’ll get out quickly!
11. Plan for any students who may need assistance escaping during a fire or emergency.
12. Teachers, teacher aides, and personal care assistants (PCAs) should hold primary responsibility for helping children who need assistance escaping. However, students, school nurse, janitor, etc. can be helpers, signing instructions to other children, holding doors, leading students out of the classroom, etc.
13. Have students act out each scenario. Allow students to work in a learning center to put the sequence cards in the correct order.
Extensions
Provide each student with a set of sequence cards. Have students cut out the cards and paste them in order on a piece of paper. Older students can write the numerals 1 through 4 to designate the correct sequence.
Using the sequence cards as prompts, have students create a story to go with the cards. This can be done as a activity with the teacher recording sentences on newsprint or students can act out each story or write their own stories in a journal.
Have students identify the beginning, middle, and end of the sequence of events for each set of cards.
Background information for teachers
Every student with a disability needs a personal school emergency evacuation plan. The plan should be part of the Individual Educational Program (IEP) to provide for the safety of the child during a building emergency, including an evacuation. The IEP will specify recommendations from a child’s physician or other medical staff on considerations or special needs that must be planned for during a child’s emergency evacuation. NFPA’s personal school emergency evacuation document provides an overview and checklist to address the specific needs of a child during emergency evacuations.
Some evacuation plans will require safety products to assist in the transfer of children with disabilities down stairs such as transfer slings, rescue chairs or mats. Make certain IEP teams are aware of the Safe Escape Program as a resource for making recommendations for evacuation products and education for school staff and families. See www.escapesafe.org or call +1 888 365-2022 for more information.
A portable health file for each child is important. This file should be with the child so that emergency responders can have access to the information.
Once the child has evacuated to the outside meeting place, if the child needs immediate medical attention, first responders on the scene need to be made aware immediately of the child’s needs.
"Get Out - Stay Out"
This scenario card lesson plan is designed to teach early elementary school children about fire escape planning and practice in the school setting and the importance of escape planning for children with disabilities.
Each scenario includes a different disability and provides an opportunity for school children to discuss how to assist others or be assisted in escaping. The scenarios are pictorial and can be used in a variety of activities including role playing, sequencing, and story starters.
Materials
• Sequence cards (set of 5 – laminated, if possible). Place each set of cards in a manila envelope
Objectives
• Students will be able to state why it is important to have and practice a fire escape plan for persons of all ages and abilities.
• Students will be able to identify the sound of the fire alarm or the visual alert from a strobe alarm, at least two ways out of the classroom and the outside meeting place at school.
• Students will be able to describe at least one way they could help someone with disabilities get out of the school when the fire alarm sounds or flashes.
Procedure
1. Write the word “Plan” on a chalkboard or whiteboard.
2. Ask students “what is a plan?” (A plan is like a road map. It tells you where to go and gives you ways to get to where you want to go.)
3. Explain that it is important to have a plan for how to get out of every room in the school.
4. Ask who knows what a fire alarm sounds like? Some fire alarms don’t make a sound. Instead, these alarms flash so that persons who are not able to hear are still able to know there is an emergency and that they need to respond. Have students demonstrate the sound of a fire alarm. Also demonstrate the flash of a strobe light. What does it mean? (There is a fire or an emergency – get out)
5. Review how you would get out of your classroom and other areas of the school such as the cafeteria, library or bathroom, or down the stairs. Talk about how a child in a wheelchair would be able to be transferred to a rescue mat or rescue chair for a safe evacuation down the stairs. Talk about how important it is for the students to wear or carry their medical passports (medical records on a flash drive) during an emergency evacuation. Identify two ways out of every room in case of an emergency. Doors should be closed after everyone has left the room. Practice the escape plan from start to finish at your outside meeting place. Practice alternative escape routes in case the primary exit is blocked.
6. Ask why is it important to have an outside meeting place. (So that you know that everyone is safe) Return to the classroom.
7. If someone could not hear the fire alarm, how could we help the person if the fire alarm sounds? (Use sign language or point to the alarm to tell them that we need to get out and then be a buddy to help them get out) . Another course of action would be to have strobe alarms installed at your school so that children who have a hearing disability also would be alerted.
If you are with someone in a wheelchair and the alarm sounds or flashes, how could you help the person? (Remember to always ask the person in the wheelchair if he or she needs help being pushed before doing so. If a teacher, teacher’s aid or personal care assistant already is pushing a person in a wheelchair, ask if you can be of help to make certain they get to the meeting place. You may be able to hold a door open so the wheelchair can get through.)
If someone can’t see and the alarm sounds, how could we help the person? (Have the person hold your elbow and guide the person out of the classroom. Tell the person where you are going and what is ahead so they understand what you are doing.)
If someone has broken their leg and is using crutches and the fire alarm sounds, how could we help the person? (Help the person pick up their crutches, hold a door open for the person.)
If someone is not feeling well and the fire alarm sounds, how could we help the person? (Hold the person’s hand and help him or her leave the classroom. The teacher or school nurse will be bringing medicines and medical equipment that children need once they get to the meeting place.)
8. It’s important to know that sometimes we might need help to get out. Sometimes it’s the teacher who will help. Students can help, too – holding doors, being a good buddy, and being friendly. Who else could be a helper at school? (school nurse, janitor, principal, guidance counselor, librarian, bus driver, etc.)
9. Use the sequence cards to review how students and grown-ups can help each other during a fire drill.
10. Use the sequence cards as visuals as students recite the following poem:
If the fire alarm sounds or flashes, I know what to do.
I can be a helper or you can help me, too.
I know the plan. It’s easy as can be.
If the alarm sounds or flashes, I’ll get out quickly!
11. Plan for any students who may need assistance escaping during a fire or emergency.
12. Teachers, teacher aides, and personal care assistants (PCAs) should hold primary responsibility for helping children who need assistance escaping. However, students, school nurse, janitor, etc. can be helpers, signing instructions to other children, holding doors, leading students out of the classroom, etc.
13. Have students act out each scenario. Allow students to work in a learning center to put the sequence cards in the correct order.
Extensions
Provide each student with a set of sequence cards. Have students cut out the cards and paste them in order on a piece of paper. Older students can write the numerals 1 through 4 to designate the correct sequence.
Using the sequence cards as prompts, have students create a story to go with the cards. This can be done as a activity with the teacher recording sentences on newsprint or students can act out each story or write their own stories in a journal.
Have students identify the beginning, middle, and end of the sequence of events for each set of cards.
Background information for teachers
Every student with a disability needs a personal school emergency evacuation plan. The plan should be part of the Individual Educational Program (IEP) to provide for the safety of the child during a building emergency, including an evacuation. The IEP will specify recommendations from a child’s physician or other medical staff on considerations or special needs that must be planned for during a child’s emergency evacuation. NFPA’s personal school emergency evacuation document provides an overview and checklist to address the specific needs of a child during emergency evacuations.
Some evacuation plans will require safety products to assist in the transfer of children with disabilities down stairs such as transfer slings, rescue chairs or mats. Make certain IEP teams are aware of the Safe Escape Program as a resource for making recommendations for evacuation products and education for school staff and families. See www.escapesafe.org or call +1 888 365-2022 for more information.
A portable health file for each child is important. This file should be with the child so that emergency responders can have access to the information.
Once the child has evacuated to the outside meeting place, if the child needs immediate medical attention, first responders on the scene need to be made aware immediately of the child’s needs.
"Get Out - Stay Out"
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Mayo O2 Ability Awards
From: Caroline Casey
To: thomaschambers@eircom.net
Cc: 'Sarah Conroy'
Subject: O2 Ability Awards
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your email of 26th January and sincere apologies for the delay in replying to you. I appreciate your feedback and am sorry to hear of your experiences with Mayo County Council. As a person with a disability myself I fully understand everyday frustrations with day-to-day life. As you may be aware we are attempting to establish a benchmark of excellence in the employment of people with disabilities, what we’re also doing is concentrating on the positive. No organization is doing a perfect job but companies that have the right attitude should be commended and some rewarded.
The O2 Ability Awards were designed to award companies that are striving to embrace diversity in their organisations. No organisation is perfect as is no person. The journey of recognising the potential and contribution that people with disabilities make to business is going to take time. As with anything, mistakes will and have been made, but it is how we overcome those mistakes and the fact that we continually strive for improvement is what truly deserves attention and is the reason for any success. These Awards are about encouraging Irish business to see that employing people with disabilities is both possible and good for business. By using the examples of those companies that have begun to do this and whose philosophy is to treat people equally we can create future opportunities. The O2 Ability Awards is about continuous improvement. They encourage business leaders and companies to ask questions, to assess themselves and their progress and to create an environment where success is rewarded. There is no full stop or perfect point. The O2 Ability Awards recognise the beginning of a journey to ensure the momentum is sustained!
Kindest regards,
Caroline.
Caroline Casey
Founder and Development
The Aisling Foundation
The rear of 1 Mount Street Crescent
Dublin 2
Ph : 00 353 1 634 0018
Mb : 00 353 87 242 3792
.
To: thomaschambers@eircom.net
Cc: 'Sarah Conroy'
Subject: O2 Ability Awards
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your email of 26th January and sincere apologies for the delay in replying to you. I appreciate your feedback and am sorry to hear of your experiences with Mayo County Council. As a person with a disability myself I fully understand everyday frustrations with day-to-day life. As you may be aware we are attempting to establish a benchmark of excellence in the employment of people with disabilities, what we’re also doing is concentrating on the positive. No organization is doing a perfect job but companies that have the right attitude should be commended and some rewarded.
The O2 Ability Awards were designed to award companies that are striving to embrace diversity in their organisations. No organisation is perfect as is no person. The journey of recognising the potential and contribution that people with disabilities make to business is going to take time. As with anything, mistakes will and have been made, but it is how we overcome those mistakes and the fact that we continually strive for improvement is what truly deserves attention and is the reason for any success. These Awards are about encouraging Irish business to see that employing people with disabilities is both possible and good for business. By using the examples of those companies that have begun to do this and whose philosophy is to treat people equally we can create future opportunities. The O2 Ability Awards is about continuous improvement. They encourage business leaders and companies to ask questions, to assess themselves and their progress and to create an environment where success is rewarded. There is no full stop or perfect point. The O2 Ability Awards recognise the beginning of a journey to ensure the momentum is sustained!
Kindest regards,
Caroline.
Caroline Casey
Founder and Development
The Aisling Foundation
The rear of 1 Mount Street Crescent
Dublin 2
Ph : 00 353 1 634 0018
Mb : 00 353 87 242 3792
.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Newport Town and Access?
Cllr. Johnny O’Malley
The Demesne
Westport
Co. Mayo
Dear Johnny,
I am writing to you because I wish to highlight several issues around Newport in relation to access issues. As you might be aware I have been involved in highlighting and campaigning for improved access for all in Mayo.
I am very concerned about several issues here in my home town in Newport and I wish to raise them with you to request your help in correcting them.
The following issues are outstanding in Newport
The parking outside the post office for those that are wheelchair bound should have the yellow box on the right-hand side.
The signage that has been erected is not the correct signage. The sign itself should be blue with white logo however the sign that has been erected has a black logo with a white background.
The surface around the new bus terminal is uneven and a new surfaced should be completed as soon as possible.
Access is required from the park to the Health Centre as there is no roadway access. Clear and well marked tactile warnings should be installed.
A rail that surrounds the entrance to the viaduct in Newport does not turn down as suggested in the handbook and by regulations. Also there is no ramp access for people who are wheelchair-bound to the viaduct. This takes from the town’s accessibility for wheelchair users and mother with buggies.
The new Newport office entrance ramp is far too steep and should be lowered so that access is easier. Also the rim around the base of the door is not flush with the ground and could pose a problem for people with wheelchairs.
There is no disabled parking marked out in the area.
A disabled parking space should be installed at the Local Hall as there are frequent events held at the hall and this would be an ideal place for a disabled parking space.
Parking is also a problem in this area as many people park in front of the access places for buggies and wheelchairs and people have to move around them often for some distance to give access to the footpath and shops.
Gullies are also a common problem in the town. When the roads are resurfaced the gullies are not moved up to the level of the new road and become the lower than the road.
The ramp on Main Street does not seem to fit the area as there is a loading bay at one end and people have found it difficult to gain access to the ramp because of the loading bay. Also the yellow box has been placed at the rear of the space. The railing also needs to recheck as the railing would not prevent any person from falling off the footpath and injuring themselves.
Sections of the footpath are missing and have been replaced by a sheet of wood. This should be taken into consideration when the path is being patched up.
A parking bay should be installed at Chambers shop. This is to facilitate people in wheelchairs as there is no real access in the area as the gullies are still posing a problem for wheelchair users.
Seaview has ramps that are made from cobbles and are proving to be a great problem. Access is virtually impossible as the cobbles are rough and not smooth. These should be removed straight away as we have been informed that a number of residents use some form of mobile transport for the elderly or disabled people.
The speed ramps on the quay road are too close to the footpath and people have to travel on the main road as the footpath is too rough to travel on in a wheelchair or otherwise.
A crossing should be installed at the hotel corner so that people can access from the opposite side of the street.
Tactile warnings should be installed from the edge of wall to the edge of the footpath for those that are visually impaired or otherwise.
The ramp at Chamber’s on George’s Street has been removed and the residence would like to see it replaced.
A footpath from town should be continued to the football pitch as the footpath that is currently in place only goes as far as the school.
Foliage on the Quay Road also poses a problem as people have to move free from the foliage to gain access to the rest of the footpath.
The work fails to comply with building regulations.
Yours sincerely
_______________
Thomas Chambers
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
The Demesne
Westport
Co. Mayo
Dear Johnny,
I am writing to you because I wish to highlight several issues around Newport in relation to access issues. As you might be aware I have been involved in highlighting and campaigning for improved access for all in Mayo.
I am very concerned about several issues here in my home town in Newport and I wish to raise them with you to request your help in correcting them.
The following issues are outstanding in Newport
The parking outside the post office for those that are wheelchair bound should have the yellow box on the right-hand side.
The signage that has been erected is not the correct signage. The sign itself should be blue with white logo however the sign that has been erected has a black logo with a white background.
The surface around the new bus terminal is uneven and a new surfaced should be completed as soon as possible.
Access is required from the park to the Health Centre as there is no roadway access. Clear and well marked tactile warnings should be installed.
A rail that surrounds the entrance to the viaduct in Newport does not turn down as suggested in the handbook and by regulations. Also there is no ramp access for people who are wheelchair-bound to the viaduct. This takes from the town’s accessibility for wheelchair users and mother with buggies.
The new Newport office entrance ramp is far too steep and should be lowered so that access is easier. Also the rim around the base of the door is not flush with the ground and could pose a problem for people with wheelchairs.
There is no disabled parking marked out in the area.
A disabled parking space should be installed at the Local Hall as there are frequent events held at the hall and this would be an ideal place for a disabled parking space.
Parking is also a problem in this area as many people park in front of the access places for buggies and wheelchairs and people have to move around them often for some distance to give access to the footpath and shops.
Gullies are also a common problem in the town. When the roads are resurfaced the gullies are not moved up to the level of the new road and become the lower than the road.
The ramp on Main Street does not seem to fit the area as there is a loading bay at one end and people have found it difficult to gain access to the ramp because of the loading bay. Also the yellow box has been placed at the rear of the space. The railing also needs to recheck as the railing would not prevent any person from falling off the footpath and injuring themselves.
Sections of the footpath are missing and have been replaced by a sheet of wood. This should be taken into consideration when the path is being patched up.
A parking bay should be installed at Chambers shop. This is to facilitate people in wheelchairs as there is no real access in the area as the gullies are still posing a problem for wheelchair users.
Seaview has ramps that are made from cobbles and are proving to be a great problem. Access is virtually impossible as the cobbles are rough and not smooth. These should be removed straight away as we have been informed that a number of residents use some form of mobile transport for the elderly or disabled people.
The speed ramps on the quay road are too close to the footpath and people have to travel on the main road as the footpath is too rough to travel on in a wheelchair or otherwise.
A crossing should be installed at the hotel corner so that people can access from the opposite side of the street.
Tactile warnings should be installed from the edge of wall to the edge of the footpath for those that are visually impaired or otherwise.
The ramp at Chamber’s on George’s Street has been removed and the residence would like to see it replaced.
A footpath from town should be continued to the football pitch as the footpath that is currently in place only goes as far as the school.
Foliage on the Quay Road also poses a problem as people have to move free from the foliage to gain access to the rest of the footpath.
The work fails to comply with building regulations.
Yours sincerely
_______________
Thomas Chambers
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
Monday, November 03, 2008
WHY WORRY?
There are only two things
To worry about-
Either you are well, or you are sick.
If you are well, then there is nothing
to worry about-
But if you are sick,
There are two things to worry about.
Either you will get well, or you die.
If you die, then you have
Two things to worry about.
Either you go to Heaven or to Hell
If you go to Heaven, then there is
Nothing to worry about-
But if you go to Hell,
You will be so damn busy
Shaking hands with old friends,
You won’t have time to worry.
There are only two things
To worry about-
Either you are well, or you are sick.
If you are well, then there is nothing
to worry about-
But if you are sick,
There are two things to worry about.
Either you will get well, or you die.
If you die, then you have
Two things to worry about.
Either you go to Heaven or to Hell
If you go to Heaven, then there is
Nothing to worry about-
But if you go to Hell,
You will be so damn busy
Shaking hands with old friends,
You won’t have time to worry.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Beijing Special Olympics 2008
Another Beijing Uproar
Dear Editor
During early summer, disabled groups reacted with outrage to an official guide for assistants at the Beijing Olympic Games that describes them as unsocial, stubborn and defensive. The guide for Chinese volunteers at the Games this summer explains that disabled people are a “special group” with “unique personalities and ways of thinking”.
The section of the manual entitled “Skills for helping the disabled” goes on to say: “Some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling…defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority.
“Sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called crippled or paralyzed. Does not use “cripple” or “lame” even if you are just joking.”
The guide, distributed to 100,000 volunteers before the Olympics in August and Paralympics in September, sparked outrage in among disabled groups.
“I’m stunned,” said Simone Aspic, a parliamentary campaigner at the UK Disabled people’s Council. “It’s not just the language but the perception that in 2008 we are considered a race apart. Disabled people are introverted and stubborn the same way as anyone else is.” The handbook notes that “often optically disabled people are introverted” and that physically disabled people can be mentally healthy.
“They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanisms from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability,” it said.
“Never stare at their disfigurement. A patronizing or condescending attitude will easily sensed by them, even for a brain-damaged patient.”
The advice reflects decades of discrimination in China against mentally and physically disabled people, who total 83 million – equivalent to the population of Germany.
The Communist Party’s desire for a healthy nation, characterized by the one child policy, fostered deep prejudices that extended to forced sterilizations, bans on marriages between disabled people and abortions of abnormal fetuses.
Most disabled people are from poor, rural areas. Those in affluent society were hidden away until public attitudes softened in the 1990s. Besides improved legal rights, there has been social progress. The Chinese now refer to can ji ren, or people with disabilities, instead of can fei, the handicapped and deficient.
Regards,
Tom Chambers
“The Billy Ranch”
Newport
Co. Mayo
Dear Editor
During early summer, disabled groups reacted with outrage to an official guide for assistants at the Beijing Olympic Games that describes them as unsocial, stubborn and defensive. The guide for Chinese volunteers at the Games this summer explains that disabled people are a “special group” with “unique personalities and ways of thinking”.
The section of the manual entitled “Skills for helping the disabled” goes on to say: “Some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling…defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority.
“Sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called crippled or paralyzed. Does not use “cripple” or “lame” even if you are just joking.”
The guide, distributed to 100,000 volunteers before the Olympics in August and Paralympics in September, sparked outrage in among disabled groups.
“I’m stunned,” said Simone Aspic, a parliamentary campaigner at the UK Disabled people’s Council. “It’s not just the language but the perception that in 2008 we are considered a race apart. Disabled people are introverted and stubborn the same way as anyone else is.” The handbook notes that “often optically disabled people are introverted” and that physically disabled people can be mentally healthy.
“They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanisms from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability,” it said.
“Never stare at their disfigurement. A patronizing or condescending attitude will easily sensed by them, even for a brain-damaged patient.”
The advice reflects decades of discrimination in China against mentally and physically disabled people, who total 83 million – equivalent to the population of Germany.
The Communist Party’s desire for a healthy nation, characterized by the one child policy, fostered deep prejudices that extended to forced sterilizations, bans on marriages between disabled people and abortions of abnormal fetuses.
Most disabled people are from poor, rural areas. Those in affluent society were hidden away until public attitudes softened in the 1990s. Besides improved legal rights, there has been social progress. The Chinese now refer to can ji ren, or people with disabilities, instead of can fei, the handicapped and deficient.
Regards,
Tom Chambers
“The Billy Ranch”
Newport
Co. Mayo
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Improvements to Newport Town
Meeting with Padraic Philbin on 2nd July2008
A meeting took place on 2nd of July 2008 with Padraic Philbin, Area Engineer for Newport Town and my self Tom Chambers. We met in the newly refurbished offices in Newport at approximately 10am. We had a chat about what we were to do and then proceeded to have a walkabout in the town environs.
We looked at several areas and Padraic and I agreed the areas that needed attention he gave me a commitment, money allowing, of the areas he could make changes to this year. It transpires money for remedial work has already being spent, but the money could be found for these remedial works.
The ramp to the viaduct was one area highlighted but unfortunately money is not available for this at present, unless funds are made available this work will not be done till next year.
The grill surrounding the trees on Main Street was highlighted.
The ramp on to the Main Street was highlighted and is to be enlarged to enable easier access for disabled parking and all pedestrian crossings to be painted in a highly visible colour.
The drop down kerb and the pedestrian crossing, opposite the hotel raised concern. Padraic said improvements for access were to be made.
George’s Street raised concerns as access is not viable from midway down on the left hand side going down.
Disabled Parking bay will be relocated to lower George’s Street and the crossing by the telephone box will be widened to its appropriate width and painted for visibility.
Quay Road (North Side) speed ramps are not accessible for wheelchairs due to the design and layout of the footpath and are located to close to kerbs this was to be looked at but due to forthcoming sewerage works due to commence this will be at a later date.
Ramps in Seaview Park are not accessible due to the design and layout of the footpath and causing distress to residents as it is at the moment.
The dropped kerb and crossing of Quay Road (South side) needs attention.
Post Office disabled bays are not signed or marked out correctly.
The Access ramp at Canon Killeen Park needs attention.
A need for a Footpath is required from Canon Killeen Park to the health center and from the Health Centre to the Post Office but Padraic couldn’t comment on this.
He said if the money could be made available for the ramp onto the viaduct these works could be undertaken this year. He gave a commitment that the other highlighted works would be done this year.
Finally, he permitted me to carry out my own inspection on the new Newport Town Council offices and forward report to Kevin Cooke, Disability access officer for Mayo Co. Council.
A meeting took place on 2nd of July 2008 with Padraic Philbin, Area Engineer for Newport Town and my self Tom Chambers. We met in the newly refurbished offices in Newport at approximately 10am. We had a chat about what we were to do and then proceeded to have a walkabout in the town environs.
We looked at several areas and Padraic and I agreed the areas that needed attention he gave me a commitment, money allowing, of the areas he could make changes to this year. It transpires money for remedial work has already being spent, but the money could be found for these remedial works.
The ramp to the viaduct was one area highlighted but unfortunately money is not available for this at present, unless funds are made available this work will not be done till next year.
The grill surrounding the trees on Main Street was highlighted.
The ramp on to the Main Street was highlighted and is to be enlarged to enable easier access for disabled parking and all pedestrian crossings to be painted in a highly visible colour.
The drop down kerb and the pedestrian crossing, opposite the hotel raised concern. Padraic said improvements for access were to be made.
George’s Street raised concerns as access is not viable from midway down on the left hand side going down.
Disabled Parking bay will be relocated to lower George’s Street and the crossing by the telephone box will be widened to its appropriate width and painted for visibility.
Quay Road (North Side) speed ramps are not accessible for wheelchairs due to the design and layout of the footpath and are located to close to kerbs this was to be looked at but due to forthcoming sewerage works due to commence this will be at a later date.
Ramps in Seaview Park are not accessible due to the design and layout of the footpath and causing distress to residents as it is at the moment.
The dropped kerb and crossing of Quay Road (South side) needs attention.
Post Office disabled bays are not signed or marked out correctly.
The Access ramp at Canon Killeen Park needs attention.
A need for a Footpath is required from Canon Killeen Park to the health center and from the Health Centre to the Post Office but Padraic couldn’t comment on this.
He said if the money could be made available for the ramp onto the viaduct these works could be undertaken this year. He gave a commitment that the other highlighted works would be done this year.
Finally, he permitted me to carry out my own inspection on the new Newport Town Council offices and forward report to Kevin Cooke, Disability access officer for Mayo Co. Council.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Cllr. Kevin Guthrie (Cathaoirleach)
McHale Road
Castlebar
Co. Mayo
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Dear Kevin,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent appointment to Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Town Council. I belief that you will serve the towns people well as you have done so in the past.
I hope you will continue and support organizations and associations as well as before, especially your work with the youth and the elderly.
I hope in your role as Cathaoirleach you would find time to promote access for all issues and make the town of Castlebar wheelchair accessible and universally accessible for people with any disability and make Castlebar even more Tourists friendly this would indeed make a real difference in simple everyday necessities often overlooked by the town planners and council.
I would like to meet with you to discuss how these changes could be made in an effective way I believe that with my insight into access issues and your care and commitment we can make a difference.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
……………………
Tom Chambers
McHale Road
Castlebar
Co. Mayo
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Dear Kevin,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent appointment to Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Town Council. I belief that you will serve the towns people well as you have done so in the past.
I hope you will continue and support organizations and associations as well as before, especially your work with the youth and the elderly.
I hope in your role as Cathaoirleach you would find time to promote access for all issues and make the town of Castlebar wheelchair accessible and universally accessible for people with any disability and make Castlebar even more Tourists friendly this would indeed make a real difference in simple everyday necessities often overlooked by the town planners and council.
I would like to meet with you to discuss how these changes could be made in an effective way I believe that with my insight into access issues and your care and commitment we can make a difference.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
……………………
Tom Chambers
Cllr Keith Martin's Blog
Letter to the editor
Posted: 03 Jul 2008 09:10 AM CDT
Dear Editor,
Mayo County Council propose to charge us all for the privilege of recycling at Derrinumera and Rathroeen and reverse their policy of allow recyclers free use of the two facilities.
How does this tie in the accepted local and national principle that the "polluter pays"?
The Polluter Pays Principle is a principle in environmental law where the polluting party pays for the damage done to the natural environment. Since 1996 this has been enshrined in our waste laws.
Currently Mayo County Council charges €5 a bag and €155 per tonne of waste received at the centres. Last year Derrinumera alone received 20,000 tonnes at €150 per tonne.
Mayo County Council also received funding totalling €128, 880 to support the operating costs of recycling facilities in November 2007. This funding was from the Environment Fund, which was established with the revenues obtained from the plastic bag levy introduced in March 2002 and the landfill levy introduced in July 2002.
Why is Mayo County Council not raising its waste fill charges to meet and running costs? Even a small increase would raise a huge amount of money.
Why is Mayo County Council setting out to generate revenue from recyclers?
If Mayo County Council proceeds with these charges they will only lead to an increase in fly tipping and backyard burning.
The cost of living is now sky high and we have councillors and officials introducing another stealth tax on hard-pressed families. I think recycling should be free and dumping should pay for the costs of both dumping and recycling.
I would appeal to your readers and especially the thousands of recyclers who use Derrinumera and Rathroeen amenity centres to contact their local councillor and Mayo County Council's, Director of Service, Mr Seamus Granaghan to protest at this move to punish recyclers.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Keith Martin
33 Pairc na Coille
Westport
Co. Mayo
086 0691182
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Letter to the editor
Posted: 03 Jul 2008 09:10 AM CDT
Dear Editor,
Mayo County Council propose to charge us all for the privilege of recycling at Derrinumera and Rathroeen and reverse their policy of allow recyclers free use of the two facilities.
How does this tie in the accepted local and national principle that the "polluter pays"?
The Polluter Pays Principle is a principle in environmental law where the polluting party pays for the damage done to the natural environment. Since 1996 this has been enshrined in our waste laws.
Currently Mayo County Council charges €5 a bag and €155 per tonne of waste received at the centres. Last year Derrinumera alone received 20,000 tonnes at €150 per tonne.
Mayo County Council also received funding totalling €128, 880 to support the operating costs of recycling facilities in November 2007. This funding was from the Environment Fund, which was established with the revenues obtained from the plastic bag levy introduced in March 2002 and the landfill levy introduced in July 2002.
Why is Mayo County Council not raising its waste fill charges to meet and running costs? Even a small increase would raise a huge amount of money.
Why is Mayo County Council setting out to generate revenue from recyclers?
If Mayo County Council proceeds with these charges they will only lead to an increase in fly tipping and backyard burning.
The cost of living is now sky high and we have councillors and officials introducing another stealth tax on hard-pressed families. I think recycling should be free and dumping should pay for the costs of both dumping and recycling.
I would appeal to your readers and especially the thousands of recyclers who use Derrinumera and Rathroeen amenity centres to contact their local councillor and Mayo County Council's, Director of Service, Mr Seamus Granaghan to protest at this move to punish recyclers.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Keith Martin
33 Pairc na Coille
Westport
Co. Mayo
086 0691182
You are subscribed to email updates from Councillor Keith Martin's website To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.
Email Delivery powered by FeedBurner
Inbox too full? Subscribe to the feed version of Councillor Keith Martin's website in a feed reader.
If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: Councillor Keith Martin's website, c/o FeedBurner, 20 W Kinzie, 9th Floor, Chicago IL USA 60610
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Saturday, June 28, 2008
Regulations Re:E U Blue Badges
Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union:
conditions in the Member States
European Commission
Put the freestanding folder at the window next to your parking card so that language(s) of the country you are visiting is/are visible.
Use it as a cover for the booklet.
Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union:
conditions in the Member States
European Commission
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit G.3Integration of People with Disabilities
Manuscript completed in February 2008
Document drawn up on the basis of the Council Recommendation 2008/205/EC. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission may be held responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this publication.
Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu/).
© European Communities, 2008 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2008
ISBN 978-92-79-08342-6 DOI 10.2767/57859
Printed in Belgium
Printed on white chlorine-free PaPer
General information and advice
This brochure is a fact sheet giving an overview of the conditions of use of a parking card for people with disabilities in the different Member States of the European Union.
Before travelling to another country, read the rules in force in that country. In some cases you will need to ask for further information locally.
Use the information provided in the freestanding folder in the language of the country where you are travelling by displaying it next to your parking card. This information will provide the local authorities with an explanation that your card is based on the standardised Community model and that you should benefit from all associated parking facilities for disabled persons in that country.
3 4 5 taBle of contentS BELGIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BULGARIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CZECH REPUBLIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 DENMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ESTONIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 IRELAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 GREECE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SPAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 FRANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ITALY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 CYPRUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 LATVIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 LITHUANIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 LUXEMBOURG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 HUNGARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 MALTA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 NETHERLANDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 AUSTRIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 POLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 PORTUGAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 ROMANIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 SLOVENIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 SLOVAKIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 FINLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 SWEDEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 UNITED KINGDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
BelGiUm General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. In most areas you may park free of charge and without time limit on road where payment is required. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge but only in parking bays reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â6 BUlGaria General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS For parking outside populated areas, the vehicles should stop outside the traffic roadway. Parking on the traffic roadway is prohibited. In populated areas, the owner or the administration managing the road is allowed to designate areas, roads, or parts of roads as zones for short-term parking during certain hours. This time should not be less than 30 minutes and more than 3 hours. ParKinG in car ParKS The parking areas are marked by road signs, road markings and notices instructing the driver about the parking terms. The corresponding municipal council is allowed to set a parking fee. 7 cZecH rePUBlic General Only the holders of the badge O1 may park their vehicles in car parks reserved for disabled people marked with the badge O1. ParKinG on roadS In individual cases, and if it is urgently necessary, the drivers with the badge O1 may ignore a “parking prohibited” signs for necessary time (safety and fluency of the road traffic must not be impaired). In individual cases, and if it is urgently necessary, the cars displaying a badge O1 may ignore the following signs: “No entry” “For access only” “Supply only” “Except only” “Resident traffic” “Except resident traffic”. In individual cases, and if it is urgently necessary, the cars marked O1 can go to areas signposted “pedestrian zone”. ParKinG in car ParKS Check locally whether private car parks apply a special regime for disabled persons. A person given an O1 badge may ask the administrative authority that a reserved parking place be established at his/her residence. 8 denmarK General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS The following time limits apply in most areas to vehicles displaying the parking card: where parking is prohibited you may park for up • to 15 minutes, but only if you are not causing an obstruction; where parking is limited to 15-30 minutes, you • may park for up to an hour; where parking is free but limited to one, two or • three hours, you may park for an unlimited time. In some areas you must pay to park on roads. If you pay for the maximum time allowed on arrival, you may be permitted to park without time limit. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. 9 GermanY General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS You may park for up to three hours on roads or in • zones where parking is otherwise prohibited. You may exceed the parking time on roads or in • zones where parking time is restricted. You may park free of charge in parking places • where payment is required through pay and display machines or parking meters. You may park in parking places reserved for • residents for up to three hours. You may park in restricted traffic zones and• outside the designated parking places provided you do not hinder through traffic. Park in pedestrian zones only if local concessions • explicitly allow it. Check locally. Even if it is permitted, you are only allowed to enter and park at specified times. Note: These parking concessions only apply if there is no alternative parking option available nearby. The maximum time limit for parking cannot exceed 24 hours. ParKinG in car ParKS Regulations in car parks vary. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 10 eStonia General On roads and in car parks, parking places for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may be permitted to park on roads where parking is prohibited but only if the car is wholly parked on the footpath and if you are not causing an obstruction. You are strongly advised to check locally. ÂYou may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required. You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. A disabled driver should have no time limit for parking. A driver of a disabled person may stop in order to pick up or set down a disabled person. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 11 ireland General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. Parking charges and parking time concessions for vehicles displaying the parking card vary. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS In some car parks, payment concessions are given to vehicles displaying the parking card. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â12 Greece General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS The use of the parking card allows parking on public roads or places for vehicle traffic, pedestrians or animals according to priority. Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. In most areas you must pay to park where payment is required. Check locally. ÂIn most areas you may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 13 SPain General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParking charges and parking time limit concessions for vehicles displaying the parking card vary. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS In most places car parks offer concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â14 france General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Although there is a national system of parking concessions, local variations can apply. Check locally. ÂLegislation insists on a free access to reserved parking places for disabled people and prohibits any kind of equipment which limits their access. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. You must pay to park on roads where payment is required. In Paris and in some other cities, vehicles displaying the parking card may be parked on roads free of charge. Check locally. ÂIn many areas you may park without time limit on roads where parking ifs free but restricted by time. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Car parks give concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. Check with car park notice or ask an attendant. Â15 italY General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a yellow line and wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS You may park on roads where parking is prohibited but only in an emergency and only if you are not causing an obstruction. In most areas you must pay to park where payment is required. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. Do not drive or park in a pedestrian or ZTL (limited traffic areas) zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS 1 in 50 spaces in public car parks is marked for use by vehicles displaying the parking card. Vehicles displaying the parking card may be parked in those spaces free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â16 cYPrUS General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Some public car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â17 latvia General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS. You may park your car for free in the specially marked parking places for persons with disabilities. Persons with a parking card for people with disabilities may ignore the following signs: “Parking prohibited” “Waiting prohibited”. ParKinG in car ParKS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. 18 litHUania General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may park on roads where parking is prohibited but only if you are not causing an obstruction. You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required, but only in spaces marked with a wheelchair symbol. You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. You may drive in a zone where traffic is prohibited ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to park free of charge, but only in parking bays reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 19 lUXemBoUrG General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. ParKinG in car ParKS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. 20 HUnGarY General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may park free of charge on roads where payment is required. You may exceed the time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to park free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â21 malta General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Details of parking concessions available to disabled people can be obtained from Maltese authorities at the following address: The Director Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b'Dizabilita' Centru Hidma Socjali Santa Venera Malta e-mail: helpdesk@knpd http://www.knpd.org/ ParKinG on roadS Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Check locally. Â22 netHerlandS General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS You may park for up to three hours on roads where parking is prohibited, but only if you are not causing obstruction. You must pay to park where payment is required and you must keep within the time limit. Local variations may apply. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time (blue zone). Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. 23 aUStria General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where stopping and parking is prohibited. In most areas you may park free of charge and without time limit where payment is required. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. You may drive and park in pedestrian zones, but only during vehicle delivery access times. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. 24 Poland General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Persons with a parking card for people with disabilities may, under the condition of keeping special precautions, disobey the following traffic signs: “No movement in both directions” “No entering for engine vehicles, with the exception of one-track motor bikes” “No entering for buses” “No entering for motor bikes” “No entering for motorized bicycles” “No parking” “No parking on odd days” “No parking on even days” “Area of restricted parking”. The above mentioned provision applies also to: a person driving a vehicle, who carries a person • with reduced mobility; members of a staff of the institutions which • deal with the care, rehabilitation or education of persons with disabilities being under their care; drivers of vehicles displaying the parking card • issued abroad. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required, but only in spaces marked with a wheelchair symbol. Check locally. Â25 You may park on either side of the road where parking is restricted on odd and even days but only if you are not causing an obstruction.
• Check locally. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it.
• Check locally. ParKinG in car ParKS
No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. But local variations may apply.
• Check locally. 26 PortUGal General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol or symbol of pregnant women or women with a child in her arms. Do not park if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited unless it is an absolute necessity and only if it is for a short time and does not obstruct vehicles or pedestrians. You must pay to park on roads where payment is required and must not exceed the paid for time. You must not exceed time limits on roads where time restrictions apply. Parking places close to disabled persons' residences can be reserved. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Car parks generally do not offer concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Some local authorities establish a reserved parking place at the residence of a disabled person. 27 romania General Within parking spaces close to public utility buildings, as well as in organised parking, at least 4% of the total number of places, but not less than 2 places, are adapted, reserved and signalled through international sign to be used free of charge by disabled persons. The administrator of the parking places in the public domain distributes free parking places for disabled people that asked for and need a parking place as close to their domicile as possible. 28 Slovenia General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may park for up to two hours on roads where parking is prohibited but only if you are not causing an obstruction. You must pay to park on roads where payment is required and keep within time limit. Where you are permitted to park on pavements, you must ensure that at least 1,6m is available for pedestrians. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â29 SlovaKia General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. The use of restricted parking areas is entitled tovehicles marked with the no. O1 symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS The driver of a vehicle transporting a seriously handicapped person having to rely on individual transportation, marked with the no. O1 symbol is not obliged to adhere to parking prohibitions, provided the driver does not obstruct through traffic. A vehicle with the no. O1 marking symbol can ignore the follow signs: “Except for Deliveries”, “Deliveries Only” “Except for Transport Services” “Transport Services”. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to park free of charge or with a charge reduction. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â30 finland General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS In some areas you may park where parking is prohibited, but only if you are not causing an obstruction. Check locally. ÂYou may park free of charge and exceed the time limit in areas where payment is required. You may exceed the time limit in areas where parking is free but limited by time. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Regulations in car parks vary. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 31 SWeden General Parking cards exempt holders only from local road traffic regulations governing parking. Local traffic regulations are usually determined by the district authority and denoted by road signs. Parking spaces reserved especially for the physically disabled with parking cards on road and in car parks are marked by a wheelchair symbol. In some districts parking is free for those displaying a parking card. ParKinG on roadS Parking for up to three hours is permitted in areas where parking is prohibited or permitted for shorter periods than three hours under local road traffic regulations. Parking for up to 24 hours is permitted in areas • where parking is permitted for periods of between three hours and 24 hours under local traffic regulations. Parking in pedestrian precincts is permitted for • up to three hours. Parking is permitted in parking spaces reserved • for the physically disabled with a parking card under local road traffic regulations. The maximum parking time for the parking space in question must be observed. You may not park in parking spaces intended for • a specific purpose or type of vehicle. ParKinG in car ParKS The above rules set out under the heading parking on roads also apply to car parks. Landowners may forbid parking or lay. 32 United KinGdom General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. The parking card is used in conjunction with a parking disc. However, people from other countries who display the parking card without a parking disc will be given the same concessions. ParKinG on roadS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card in Central London. Check locally. ÂYou may park on roads where parking is prohibited unless there is a sign “no loading or unloading”, and only if you are not causing an obstruction for: up to three hours in England and Wales; • without time limit in Scotland and Northern • Ireland unless local restrictions apply. Check locally. Â33 You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required unless signs indicate otherwise.
• Check locally. You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time unless signs indicate otherwise.
• Check locally. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it.
• Check locally. ParKinG in car ParKS
Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the Parking Card to be park free of charge.
Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.
34 European Commission
Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union: conditions in the Member States
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 2008 – 36 pp. – 9,9 × 21 cm ISBN 978-92-79-08342-6
How to obtain EU publications
Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu/), where you can place an order with the sales agent of your choice. The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact details by sending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758.
More information:
http://parkingcard.europa.eu/
KE-30-08-401-EN-C
conditions in the Member States
European Commission
Put the freestanding folder at the window next to your parking card so that language(s) of the country you are visiting is/are visible.
Use it as a cover for the booklet.
Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union:
conditions in the Member States
European Commission
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit G.3Integration of People with Disabilities
Manuscript completed in February 2008
Document drawn up on the basis of the Council Recommendation 2008/205/EC. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission may be held responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this publication.
Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu/).
© European Communities, 2008 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2008
ISBN 978-92-79-08342-6 DOI 10.2767/57859
Printed in Belgium
Printed on white chlorine-free PaPer
General information and advice
This brochure is a fact sheet giving an overview of the conditions of use of a parking card for people with disabilities in the different Member States of the European Union.
Before travelling to another country, read the rules in force in that country. In some cases you will need to ask for further information locally.
Use the information provided in the freestanding folder in the language of the country where you are travelling by displaying it next to your parking card. This information will provide the local authorities with an explanation that your card is based on the standardised Community model and that you should benefit from all associated parking facilities for disabled persons in that country.
3 4 5 taBle of contentS BELGIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BULGARIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CZECH REPUBLIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 DENMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ESTONIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 IRELAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 GREECE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SPAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 FRANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ITALY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 CYPRUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 LATVIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 LITHUANIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 LUXEMBOURG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 HUNGARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 MALTA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 NETHERLANDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 AUSTRIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 POLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 PORTUGAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 ROMANIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 SLOVENIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 SLOVAKIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 FINLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 SWEDEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 UNITED KINGDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
BelGiUm General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. In most areas you may park free of charge and without time limit on road where payment is required. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge but only in parking bays reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â6 BUlGaria General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS For parking outside populated areas, the vehicles should stop outside the traffic roadway. Parking on the traffic roadway is prohibited. In populated areas, the owner or the administration managing the road is allowed to designate areas, roads, or parts of roads as zones for short-term parking during certain hours. This time should not be less than 30 minutes and more than 3 hours. ParKinG in car ParKS The parking areas are marked by road signs, road markings and notices instructing the driver about the parking terms. The corresponding municipal council is allowed to set a parking fee. 7 cZecH rePUBlic General Only the holders of the badge O1 may park their vehicles in car parks reserved for disabled people marked with the badge O1. ParKinG on roadS In individual cases, and if it is urgently necessary, the drivers with the badge O1 may ignore a “parking prohibited” signs for necessary time (safety and fluency of the road traffic must not be impaired). In individual cases, and if it is urgently necessary, the cars displaying a badge O1 may ignore the following signs: “No entry” “For access only” “Supply only” “Except only” “Resident traffic” “Except resident traffic”. In individual cases, and if it is urgently necessary, the cars marked O1 can go to areas signposted “pedestrian zone”. ParKinG in car ParKS Check locally whether private car parks apply a special regime for disabled persons. A person given an O1 badge may ask the administrative authority that a reserved parking place be established at his/her residence. 8 denmarK General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS The following time limits apply in most areas to vehicles displaying the parking card: where parking is prohibited you may park for up • to 15 minutes, but only if you are not causing an obstruction; where parking is limited to 15-30 minutes, you • may park for up to an hour; where parking is free but limited to one, two or • three hours, you may park for an unlimited time. In some areas you must pay to park on roads. If you pay for the maximum time allowed on arrival, you may be permitted to park without time limit. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. 9 GermanY General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS You may park for up to three hours on roads or in • zones where parking is otherwise prohibited. You may exceed the parking time on roads or in • zones where parking time is restricted. You may park free of charge in parking places • where payment is required through pay and display machines or parking meters. You may park in parking places reserved for • residents for up to three hours. You may park in restricted traffic zones and• outside the designated parking places provided you do not hinder through traffic. Park in pedestrian zones only if local concessions • explicitly allow it. Check locally. Even if it is permitted, you are only allowed to enter and park at specified times. Note: These parking concessions only apply if there is no alternative parking option available nearby. The maximum time limit for parking cannot exceed 24 hours. ParKinG in car ParKS Regulations in car parks vary. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 10 eStonia General On roads and in car parks, parking places for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may be permitted to park on roads where parking is prohibited but only if the car is wholly parked on the footpath and if you are not causing an obstruction. You are strongly advised to check locally. ÂYou may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required. You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. A disabled driver should have no time limit for parking. A driver of a disabled person may stop in order to pick up or set down a disabled person. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 11 ireland General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. Parking charges and parking time concessions for vehicles displaying the parking card vary. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS In some car parks, payment concessions are given to vehicles displaying the parking card. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â12 Greece General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS The use of the parking card allows parking on public roads or places for vehicle traffic, pedestrians or animals according to priority. Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. In most areas you must pay to park where payment is required. Check locally. ÂIn most areas you may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 13 SPain General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParking charges and parking time limit concessions for vehicles displaying the parking card vary. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS In most places car parks offer concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â14 france General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Although there is a national system of parking concessions, local variations can apply. Check locally. ÂLegislation insists on a free access to reserved parking places for disabled people and prohibits any kind of equipment which limits their access. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. You must pay to park on roads where payment is required. In Paris and in some other cities, vehicles displaying the parking card may be parked on roads free of charge. Check locally. ÂIn many areas you may park without time limit on roads where parking ifs free but restricted by time. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Car parks give concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. Check with car park notice or ask an attendant. Â15 italY General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a yellow line and wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS You may park on roads where parking is prohibited but only in an emergency and only if you are not causing an obstruction. In most areas you must pay to park where payment is required. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. Do not drive or park in a pedestrian or ZTL (limited traffic areas) zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS 1 in 50 spaces in public car parks is marked for use by vehicles displaying the parking card. Vehicles displaying the parking card may be parked in those spaces free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â16 cYPrUS General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Some public car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â17 latvia General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS. You may park your car for free in the specially marked parking places for persons with disabilities. Persons with a parking card for people with disabilities may ignore the following signs: “Parking prohibited” “Waiting prohibited”. ParKinG in car ParKS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. 18 litHUania General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may park on roads where parking is prohibited but only if you are not causing an obstruction. You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required, but only in spaces marked with a wheelchair symbol. You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. You may drive in a zone where traffic is prohibited ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to park free of charge, but only in parking bays reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 19 lUXemBoUrG General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. ParKinG in car ParKS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. 20 HUnGarY General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may park free of charge on roads where payment is required. You may exceed the time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to park free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â21 malta General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Details of parking concessions available to disabled people can be obtained from Maltese authorities at the following address: The Director Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b'Dizabilita' Centru Hidma Socjali Santa Venera Malta e-mail: helpdesk@knpd http://www.knpd.org/ ParKinG on roadS Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Check locally. Â22 netHerlandS General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS You may park for up to three hours on roads where parking is prohibited, but only if you are not causing obstruction. You must pay to park where payment is required and you must keep within the time limit. Local variations may apply. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time (blue zone). Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. 23 aUStria General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where stopping and parking is prohibited. In most areas you may park free of charge and without time limit where payment is required. Check locally. ÂYou may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. You may drive and park in pedestrian zones, but only during vehicle delivery access times. Check locally. ÂParKinG in car ParKS Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying the parking card. 24 Poland General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Persons with a parking card for people with disabilities may, under the condition of keeping special precautions, disobey the following traffic signs: “No movement in both directions” “No entering for engine vehicles, with the exception of one-track motor bikes” “No entering for buses” “No entering for motor bikes” “No entering for motorized bicycles” “No parking” “No parking on odd days” “No parking on even days” “Area of restricted parking”. The above mentioned provision applies also to: a person driving a vehicle, who carries a person • with reduced mobility; members of a staff of the institutions which • deal with the care, rehabilitation or education of persons with disabilities being under their care; drivers of vehicles displaying the parking card • issued abroad. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited. You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required, but only in spaces marked with a wheelchair symbol. Check locally. Â25 You may park on either side of the road where parking is restricted on odd and even days but only if you are not causing an obstruction.
• Check locally. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it.
• Check locally. ParKinG in car ParKS
No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card. But local variations may apply.
• Check locally. 26 PortUGal General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol or symbol of pregnant women or women with a child in her arms. Do not park if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited unless it is an absolute necessity and only if it is for a short time and does not obstruct vehicles or pedestrians. You must pay to park on roads where payment is required and must not exceed the paid for time. You must not exceed time limits on roads where time restrictions apply. Parking places close to disabled persons' residences can be reserved. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Car parks generally do not offer concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Some local authorities establish a reserved parking place at the residence of a disabled person. 27 romania General Within parking spaces close to public utility buildings, as well as in organised parking, at least 4% of the total number of places, but not less than 2 places, are adapted, reserved and signalled through international sign to be used free of charge by disabled persons. The administrator of the parking places in the public domain distributes free parking places for disabled people that asked for and need a parking place as close to their domicile as possible. 28 Slovenia General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. ParKinG on roadS You may park for up to two hours on roads where parking is prohibited but only if you are not causing an obstruction. You must pay to park on roads where payment is required and keep within time limit. Where you are permitted to park on pavements, you must ensure that at least 1,6m is available for pedestrians. Check locally. ÂDo not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â29 SlovaKia General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. The use of restricted parking areas is entitled tovehicles marked with the no. O1 symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS The driver of a vehicle transporting a seriously handicapped person having to rely on individual transportation, marked with the no. O1 symbol is not obliged to adhere to parking prohibitions, provided the driver does not obstruct through traffic. A vehicle with the no. O1 marking symbol can ignore the follow signs: “Except for Deliveries”, “Deliveries Only” “Except for Transport Services” “Transport Services”. ParKinG in car ParKS Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the parking card to park free of charge or with a charge reduction. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Â30 finland General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. ParKinG on roadS In some areas you may park where parking is prohibited, but only if you are not causing an obstruction. Check locally. ÂYou may park free of charge and exceed the time limit in areas where payment is required. You may exceed the time limit in areas where parking is free but limited by time. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones. ParKinG in car ParKS Regulations in car parks vary. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. 31 SWeden General Parking cards exempt holders only from local road traffic regulations governing parking. Local traffic regulations are usually determined by the district authority and denoted by road signs. Parking spaces reserved especially for the physically disabled with parking cards on road and in car parks are marked by a wheelchair symbol. In some districts parking is free for those displaying a parking card. ParKinG on roadS Parking for up to three hours is permitted in areas where parking is prohibited or permitted for shorter periods than three hours under local road traffic regulations. Parking for up to 24 hours is permitted in areas • where parking is permitted for periods of between three hours and 24 hours under local traffic regulations. Parking in pedestrian precincts is permitted for • up to three hours. Parking is permitted in parking spaces reserved • for the physically disabled with a parking card under local road traffic regulations. The maximum parking time for the parking space in question must be observed. You may not park in parking spaces intended for • a specific purpose or type of vehicle. ParKinG in car ParKS The above rules set out under the heading parking on roads also apply to car parks. Landowners may forbid parking or lay. 32 United KinGdom General On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. The parking card is used in conjunction with a parking disc. However, people from other countries who display the parking card without a parking disc will be given the same concessions. ParKinG on roadS No concessions are offered to vehicles displaying the parking card in Central London. Check locally. ÂYou may park on roads where parking is prohibited unless there is a sign “no loading or unloading”, and only if you are not causing an obstruction for: up to three hours in England and Wales; • without time limit in Scotland and Northern • Ireland unless local restrictions apply. Check locally. Â33 You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads where payment is required unless signs indicate otherwise.
• Check locally. You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time unless signs indicate otherwise.
• Check locally. Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it.
• Check locally. ParKinG in car ParKS
Some car parks allow vehicles displaying the Parking Card to be park free of charge.
Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.
34 European Commission
Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union: conditions in the Member States
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 2008 – 36 pp. – 9,9 × 21 cm ISBN 978-92-79-08342-6
How to obtain EU publications
Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu/), where you can place an order with the sales agent of your choice. The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact details by sending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758.
More information:
http://parkingcard.europa.eu/
KE-30-08-401-EN-C
Cllr Keith Martin's Blog
Recycling charges are twisted says Martin
Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:18 PM CDT
Councillor Keith Martin has described the decision by Mayo County Council to charge for recycling at the Derrinumera and Rathroeen amenity centres as "twisted".
Cllr Martin says "the logic behind the charge is twisted as the policy locally and nationally is that the polluter pays; not the recycler!
Last week director of services Seamus Granahan revealed the proposed charges during a meeting of the environmental policy and emergency services strategic policy committee of Mayo County Council. The Chairperson of the environment strategic policy committee is Westport's Cllr Margaret Adams.
An example of the charges which may be put into effect are €2 per car and €5 per van. A council official explained that a two-tier system might come into effect where glass and can recycling banks would remain outside the centre and would be free of charge
The director of services said that the money accumulated from this fee would be invested into the construction of other centres and that the charge should be "imposed with immediate effect".
Currently, members of the public using Rathroeen and Derrinumera civic sites are only charged for bags of refuse going to landfill.
Cllr Martin says "I am opposed to such charges which will punish those who are doing their bit for the environment. I think it will end up damaging the great progress that has been made in domestic waste recycling in Mayo. Charging for recycling is another stealth tax. The public should be rewarded for recycling not charged more money.
"Mayo County Council charges private individuals and waste contractors for dumping waste at these centres and it is from these charges that the cost of these centres should be met.
"I am taking this issue up with Mr Granahan and with Cllr Margaret Adams and the rest of her committee. I think it is appalling that there has been no opposition to this plan from the committee. I am writing to all the members and officials this week. I am also urging the public to contact their local councillors and tell them to block the charges.
"I am also urgently calling on Cllr Adams, as head of the committee responsible, to come out and join me in opposing these charges. In the meantime I will not rule out public protests on the issue.
"These charges are the thin end of the wedge and once introduced there will be no limit to how much the council can and will increase them in coming years."
Cllr Martin concluded that he will be bringing a motion before Westport Town Council calling for the revocation of the charges at the July meeting of the council.
"The polluter should pay; the recycler should not, it's a simple as that. The cost of living is now sky high and we have councillors and officials introducing another stealth tax on hard pressed families. It's a disgrace!"
086 0691182 098 25747
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Recycling charges are twisted says Martin
Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:18 PM CDT
Councillor Keith Martin has described the decision by Mayo County Council to charge for recycling at the Derrinumera and Rathroeen amenity centres as "twisted".
Cllr Martin says "the logic behind the charge is twisted as the policy locally and nationally is that the polluter pays; not the recycler!
Last week director of services Seamus Granahan revealed the proposed charges during a meeting of the environmental policy and emergency services strategic policy committee of Mayo County Council. The Chairperson of the environment strategic policy committee is Westport's Cllr Margaret Adams.
An example of the charges which may be put into effect are €2 per car and €5 per van. A council official explained that a two-tier system might come into effect where glass and can recycling banks would remain outside the centre and would be free of charge
The director of services said that the money accumulated from this fee would be invested into the construction of other centres and that the charge should be "imposed with immediate effect".
Currently, members of the public using Rathroeen and Derrinumera civic sites are only charged for bags of refuse going to landfill.
Cllr Martin says "I am opposed to such charges which will punish those who are doing their bit for the environment. I think it will end up damaging the great progress that has been made in domestic waste recycling in Mayo. Charging for recycling is another stealth tax. The public should be rewarded for recycling not charged more money.
"Mayo County Council charges private individuals and waste contractors for dumping waste at these centres and it is from these charges that the cost of these centres should be met.
"I am taking this issue up with Mr Granahan and with Cllr Margaret Adams and the rest of her committee. I think it is appalling that there has been no opposition to this plan from the committee. I am writing to all the members and officials this week. I am also urging the public to contact their local councillors and tell them to block the charges.
"I am also urgently calling on Cllr Adams, as head of the committee responsible, to come out and join me in opposing these charges. In the meantime I will not rule out public protests on the issue.
"These charges are the thin end of the wedge and once introduced there will be no limit to how much the council can and will increase them in coming years."
Cllr Martin concluded that he will be bringing a motion before Westport Town Council calling for the revocation of the charges at the July meeting of the council.
"The polluter should pay; the recycler should not, it's a simple as that. The cost of living is now sky high and we have councillors and officials introducing another stealth tax on hard pressed families. It's a disgrace!"
086 0691182 098 25747
You are subscribed to email updates from Councillor Keith Martin's website To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.
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Inbox too full? Subscribe to the feed version of Councillor Keith Martin's website in a feed reader.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Mr Enda Kenny TD
Constituency Office
Tucker Street
Castlebar
Co Mayo
18/6/08
Dear Enda
I welcome the article that was published in the Insight Magazine, May-June issue (Kenny concerned over access in Castlebar) regarding footpath obstructions for the accessibility for all .
In 1982 when your party was in power you were among a group of Cllrs, architects, engineers, the press, myself and one other wheelchair user took part in a fact finding mission on access in Castlebar town that was 26 years ago !! And despite much talk nothing has changed except more cars more obstructions.
So I am wondering after 26 years what exactly your campaign will cover and what your objectives are .I would be happy to consult with you on issues that affect wheelchair users and people with all disabilities’
I have being actively trying to raise awareness on these issues myself on an ongoing basis but to no real effect. therefore I feel that people with disabilities should be included in all decision making that affects us.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
----------------
Tom Chambers
Constituency Office
Tucker Street
Castlebar
Co Mayo
18/6/08
Dear Enda
I welcome the article that was published in the Insight Magazine, May-June issue (Kenny concerned over access in Castlebar) regarding footpath obstructions for the accessibility for all .
In 1982 when your party was in power you were among a group of Cllrs, architects, engineers, the press, myself and one other wheelchair user took part in a fact finding mission on access in Castlebar town that was 26 years ago !! And despite much talk nothing has changed except more cars more obstructions.
So I am wondering after 26 years what exactly your campaign will cover and what your objectives are .I would be happy to consult with you on issues that affect wheelchair users and people with all disabilities’
I have being actively trying to raise awareness on these issues myself on an ongoing basis but to no real effect. therefore I feel that people with disabilities should be included in all decision making that affects us.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
----------------
Tom Chambers
THE MIRACLES IN THE CAR PARK
There are, as they say, patron saints and patron saints. Some famous, some not so much; some outstanding in they’re chosen departments, monopolists of miraculous favours.
St. Anthony for things lost; St. Jude for hopeless cases; St. Blaise for the sore throat; St. Christopher for the traveller-we each of us have our own favourite.
But surely, if there is one who has been ignored, neglected and unknown (as far as I am aware) patron saint of car parks. His identify may be a secret, but his works are the essence of heavenly intervention.
Have you not noticed, those past few weeks, the recurrent miracles played out in the public car parks of town and city? Disabled drivers (for what else can they be) gently manoeuvre their vehicles into the only unoccupied spaces in town, those marked with the wheelchair logo. Minutes later, they can be seen heading off to the shops, agile and able-bodied and fleet of foot, just like you or me, their crutches and Zimmer frames thrown to one side (or somewhere), their wheelchairs no longer needed.
But where is their gratitude? Is there a leper among them to come back and say thanks? You will scan the Thanksgiving small ads all you like, but you will see no mention of thanks to that mild and good saint who has restored their crippled bodies to full and instant health.
The good saint is long used to such ingratitude, and all the better for it. If there is a complaint, it is his blatant discrimination in the matter of which he decides to bestow his great favours on. Invariably, the occupants of the miracle wheelchair spaces are those bearings the distinctive yellow number plates of Northern Ireland or British motorists.
But then it would be churlish to begrudge a visitor the miraculous cure to be found south of the Border. Think of the benefit which-properly marketed-the car-parking miracles would be to the tourist trade.
Respectfully yours,
…………………..
Tom Chambers
“The Billy Ranch”
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
There are, as they say, patron saints and patron saints. Some famous, some not so much; some outstanding in they’re chosen departments, monopolists of miraculous favours.
St. Anthony for things lost; St. Jude for hopeless cases; St. Blaise for the sore throat; St. Christopher for the traveller-we each of us have our own favourite.
But surely, if there is one who has been ignored, neglected and unknown (as far as I am aware) patron saint of car parks. His identify may be a secret, but his works are the essence of heavenly intervention.
Have you not noticed, those past few weeks, the recurrent miracles played out in the public car parks of town and city? Disabled drivers (for what else can they be) gently manoeuvre their vehicles into the only unoccupied spaces in town, those marked with the wheelchair logo. Minutes later, they can be seen heading off to the shops, agile and able-bodied and fleet of foot, just like you or me, their crutches and Zimmer frames thrown to one side (or somewhere), their wheelchairs no longer needed.
But where is their gratitude? Is there a leper among them to come back and say thanks? You will scan the Thanksgiving small ads all you like, but you will see no mention of thanks to that mild and good saint who has restored their crippled bodies to full and instant health.
The good saint is long used to such ingratitude, and all the better for it. If there is a complaint, it is his blatant discrimination in the matter of which he decides to bestow his great favours on. Invariably, the occupants of the miracle wheelchair spaces are those bearings the distinctive yellow number plates of Northern Ireland or British motorists.
But then it would be churlish to begrudge a visitor the miraculous cure to be found south of the Border. Think of the benefit which-properly marketed-the car-parking miracles would be to the tourist trade.
Respectfully yours,
…………………..
Tom Chambers
“The Billy Ranch”
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
“The Celtic Tiger”
Can anyone tell me as to why it is so difficult to have a basic need catered to regarding accessibility in Ireland? In this day and age you would think firstly that pure and utter logic would prevail, but with my experiences, and with the so called "Celtic Tiger" we are years away from being a society that open doors.
Sorry, regulars only !
Yeah I know, yet another wheelchair story about how hard done by the disabled are. Yes but this time with a twist and the odd flavour of madness.Let me start by giving a synopsis as to the type of person who actually took time out to clear his mind of the everyday hypocrisy a wheelchair user has to deal with (note that I stated user and not bound, I am quiet attached to my chair when getting around but I tend to leave it outside the covers when I sleep).I don’t mind in the least as to how I would be classed, it differs from generation to generation, and to an elderly person I would be classed as an invalid, personally I think myself to be a valid person but hey, those were the times so you had to roll with it. Today, people get too hung up on what they perceive themselves to be and what category they file into. I suppose some people feel they need to belong to a group whether they are disabled or not, but who among us doesn’t suffer from one form of a disability, be it obvious like mine or the able bodied male in his pin stripped suit who has been rendered impotent due to the pressures of work. Personally, I’d prefer my chair.So let’s get back on track, I’m a 62 year old male, paraplegic, March ’81 was an eye opener for me, I found out that I actually owned a spinal cord. It didn’t seem very important at the time but I like many others found out that when that cord gets damaged, it can change a life in an instant. My first experience with the consultant in the rehab, I even learned as to the different levels on the spinal column as he briefly muttered you’re a T7 and walked away. When you’re in a position like that, you find it to be “a hard tablet to swallow” but I considered myself as lucky, with the amount of damage that was done, I was very lucky to be breathing, although still at this time it was with the aid of a machine, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before I tasted the sweet burning of my lungs as I inhaled my first cigarette. Some people never learn.I always had strong will power but never acted upon it, so I thought it’s now or never. I am no different to many spinal injuries who took the bull by the horns, so I dusted myself off and got on with life, no self pity, no chip on my shoulder, no “why me?”. The way I look it is “why not me” it can happen to anyone in a heart beat, and it doesn’t discriminate between rich or poor, male or female, young or old. You just got to play the cards you were dealt and make the most of it. I am also of the view which some people find harsh is that some people with disabilities really irritate me, now of course if I was able to walk on shoe leather, to make a statement like that I would be classed as some form of a bigot, I on the other hand have seen it first hand as to how much whining someone can do purely because they think society in general should stand up and take notice. I got news for ye lads; society doesn’t give two fiddlers, so get your balls back and move on.I’ve heard it all over the years, even from the mouth of an MEP who while on his visit to the rehab said and I quote “want anything done lads regarding any disability issue, then don’t come to me” so, you see whether you are in a chair or not, it doesn’t give you an automatic right to be a self righteous pain in the rectum. Yes people with disabilities have rights, as does anyone else in this god forsaken country. But what is the point in having all these rights. It reminds me of when I was given my free travel pass, what a load of good that was, I wasn’t able to get on a bus, to try and gain access to a train was like Bertie Ahern trying to get a sentence out without sticking both feet in his mouth.Access, now this is a word that nobody seems to understand. As a wheelchair user this is an issue that grounds a lot of ideas as to how you might want to spend an evening out. I, a drinker don’t frequent public houses very often, for two reasons, the first is that there is rarely an occasion when I would be able to gain access to the toilets, and I think the barman would be offended when I go to the counter and ask for an empty pint glass and then give it back to him full. The second reason is that I’m a magnet for the typical male who got up that morning and decided “today I’m going to the pub and I’m not leaving there till I’ve drank my weight in beer”. As he finds it quiet difficult to focus, he staggers his way towards me and feels the need to spend some time with me and tell me how marvellous I am because I can push myself, I am also subjected to his three second memory span, and then of course he decides to test the theory “push it and it moves”. One of the funniest regarding access I have came across is a pub Dublin which actually has a ramp leading up to an eight inch step, try figure that one out.I like to try and go places that I don’t get too much bother. So I decided to try the local cinema, notice I said “try”. But at least if I wanted to see a movie there was a good chance it was to be viewed with comfort. I thought to myself at the time “this is 2007, surely this will be done right” Yeah and then all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put humpty dumpy together again. What a farce, I had plenty of access into the building. Well that didn’t go to plan as the seating area for wheelchair users is in the centre of the isle. Now my question is, where on gods green earth is the logic in that? Not to mention the fact that being a six footer in a chair and towering over people beside me, I automatically become a nightmare for the person in the back row with his camcorder stuck between his legs. Have any of these developers got an IQ over seventy? Wouldn’t it be a logical step to take to have a wheelchair user taken onboard, purely as a consultant? People in suits designing buildings and giving their own interputation of access, isn’t the way to do it. Are they under the illusion that we are grateful for the day out and going to the cinema itself should be enough, sure didn’t he get out for the day anyway, isn’t he great, god bless him.Now if you ever fancy a weekend away and decide to book a B&B, well enough said. Reason why is because there are no B&B’s that truly cater for people with disabilities, yes I know one has opened in Munster but that seems to have a seasonal opening and if someone doesn’t want to cater all year round then personally I’m not going to bother giving my custom, see I have just exercised one of my rights. So the majority of times I would use a Hotel, well easier said than done, some places when you ring up and book a room and state “I would like a room with wheelchair access and also for the en suite to be wheelchair friendly”. Done and dusted, hotel booked for the weekend, into the car and off we go. Arrive at the hotel, check in, toddle off up to the room, and I let curiosity get the better of me and take the leap forward to check out the en suite.Then reality sets in, I’m away for the weekend, with absolutely no way of bathing properly, I’m facing a room that you could barely swing a cat in, a bath that’s not accessible and since I don’t bring a mirror with me, shaving becomes difficult as the mirror is a foot above my head. Come on people it’s not rocket science. One group of hotels I enjoy frequenting are the quality choice hotels, when you ask for a wheelchair accessible room, you get exactly what you need, but I do have one complaint regarding the en suite, although it is quiet spacious and actually even has a roll in shower which I was pleasantly surprised to see, there was one main ingredient missing “the shower chair”. How am I to shower? How am I to get from the bed to the shower? Use my wheelchair? It doesn’t take much for people who are in business which cater to the public to get advice in these matters, but we are the minority and that has been proven when you see the amount of rooms any given hotel out there has so called adapted for the disabled.My least pleasant stay would have been in a hotel in Co. Cork. That was a joke, wheelchair accessible room was upstairs, only thing was that the lift didn’t stop on that floor. So you had to go through the back yard, where all the crap was kept, then you had to wait to make sure a member of staff had the keys for the back door to gain access to the “wheelchair accessible” room, but that really didn’t matter as you could use the time well by warming up before you tackled the ramp leading up to the back door, and as you can see there is no point in going into more detail as to what this hotel catered for, but I did have the pleasure in filling out a comment card I was so graciously handed upon leaving, Personally I think there just isn’t enough room on them cards to really elaborate your true feelings.
Before I go; I must exercise my vote even though I am informed once again that my local polling station is inaccessible and I will have to use another station (N.S.) “So much for education” that has a makeshift ramp around the back of the buildingYes I know “able bodied have feelings too”. But the sooner this country gets with the times the better it will be for all of us.
Tom Chambers
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Newport.
Can anyone tell me as to why it is so difficult to have a basic need catered to regarding accessibility in Ireland? In this day and age you would think firstly that pure and utter logic would prevail, but with my experiences, and with the so called "Celtic Tiger" we are years away from being a society that open doors.
Sorry, regulars only !
Yeah I know, yet another wheelchair story about how hard done by the disabled are. Yes but this time with a twist and the odd flavour of madness.Let me start by giving a synopsis as to the type of person who actually took time out to clear his mind of the everyday hypocrisy a wheelchair user has to deal with (note that I stated user and not bound, I am quiet attached to my chair when getting around but I tend to leave it outside the covers when I sleep).I don’t mind in the least as to how I would be classed, it differs from generation to generation, and to an elderly person I would be classed as an invalid, personally I think myself to be a valid person but hey, those were the times so you had to roll with it. Today, people get too hung up on what they perceive themselves to be and what category they file into. I suppose some people feel they need to belong to a group whether they are disabled or not, but who among us doesn’t suffer from one form of a disability, be it obvious like mine or the able bodied male in his pin stripped suit who has been rendered impotent due to the pressures of work. Personally, I’d prefer my chair.So let’s get back on track, I’m a 62 year old male, paraplegic, March ’81 was an eye opener for me, I found out that I actually owned a spinal cord. It didn’t seem very important at the time but I like many others found out that when that cord gets damaged, it can change a life in an instant. My first experience with the consultant in the rehab, I even learned as to the different levels on the spinal column as he briefly muttered you’re a T7 and walked away. When you’re in a position like that, you find it to be “a hard tablet to swallow” but I considered myself as lucky, with the amount of damage that was done, I was very lucky to be breathing, although still at this time it was with the aid of a machine, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before I tasted the sweet burning of my lungs as I inhaled my first cigarette. Some people never learn.I always had strong will power but never acted upon it, so I thought it’s now or never. I am no different to many spinal injuries who took the bull by the horns, so I dusted myself off and got on with life, no self pity, no chip on my shoulder, no “why me?”. The way I look it is “why not me” it can happen to anyone in a heart beat, and it doesn’t discriminate between rich or poor, male or female, young or old. You just got to play the cards you were dealt and make the most of it. I am also of the view which some people find harsh is that some people with disabilities really irritate me, now of course if I was able to walk on shoe leather, to make a statement like that I would be classed as some form of a bigot, I on the other hand have seen it first hand as to how much whining someone can do purely because they think society in general should stand up and take notice. I got news for ye lads; society doesn’t give two fiddlers, so get your balls back and move on.I’ve heard it all over the years, even from the mouth of an MEP who while on his visit to the rehab said and I quote “want anything done lads regarding any disability issue, then don’t come to me” so, you see whether you are in a chair or not, it doesn’t give you an automatic right to be a self righteous pain in the rectum. Yes people with disabilities have rights, as does anyone else in this god forsaken country. But what is the point in having all these rights. It reminds me of when I was given my free travel pass, what a load of good that was, I wasn’t able to get on a bus, to try and gain access to a train was like Bertie Ahern trying to get a sentence out without sticking both feet in his mouth.Access, now this is a word that nobody seems to understand. As a wheelchair user this is an issue that grounds a lot of ideas as to how you might want to spend an evening out. I, a drinker don’t frequent public houses very often, for two reasons, the first is that there is rarely an occasion when I would be able to gain access to the toilets, and I think the barman would be offended when I go to the counter and ask for an empty pint glass and then give it back to him full. The second reason is that I’m a magnet for the typical male who got up that morning and decided “today I’m going to the pub and I’m not leaving there till I’ve drank my weight in beer”. As he finds it quiet difficult to focus, he staggers his way towards me and feels the need to spend some time with me and tell me how marvellous I am because I can push myself, I am also subjected to his three second memory span, and then of course he decides to test the theory “push it and it moves”. One of the funniest regarding access I have came across is a pub Dublin which actually has a ramp leading up to an eight inch step, try figure that one out.I like to try and go places that I don’t get too much bother. So I decided to try the local cinema, notice I said “try”. But at least if I wanted to see a movie there was a good chance it was to be viewed with comfort. I thought to myself at the time “this is 2007, surely this will be done right” Yeah and then all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put humpty dumpy together again. What a farce, I had plenty of access into the building. Well that didn’t go to plan as the seating area for wheelchair users is in the centre of the isle. Now my question is, where on gods green earth is the logic in that? Not to mention the fact that being a six footer in a chair and towering over people beside me, I automatically become a nightmare for the person in the back row with his camcorder stuck between his legs. Have any of these developers got an IQ over seventy? Wouldn’t it be a logical step to take to have a wheelchair user taken onboard, purely as a consultant? People in suits designing buildings and giving their own interputation of access, isn’t the way to do it. Are they under the illusion that we are grateful for the day out and going to the cinema itself should be enough, sure didn’t he get out for the day anyway, isn’t he great, god bless him.Now if you ever fancy a weekend away and decide to book a B&B, well enough said. Reason why is because there are no B&B’s that truly cater for people with disabilities, yes I know one has opened in Munster but that seems to have a seasonal opening and if someone doesn’t want to cater all year round then personally I’m not going to bother giving my custom, see I have just exercised one of my rights. So the majority of times I would use a Hotel, well easier said than done, some places when you ring up and book a room and state “I would like a room with wheelchair access and also for the en suite to be wheelchair friendly”. Done and dusted, hotel booked for the weekend, into the car and off we go. Arrive at the hotel, check in, toddle off up to the room, and I let curiosity get the better of me and take the leap forward to check out the en suite.Then reality sets in, I’m away for the weekend, with absolutely no way of bathing properly, I’m facing a room that you could barely swing a cat in, a bath that’s not accessible and since I don’t bring a mirror with me, shaving becomes difficult as the mirror is a foot above my head. Come on people it’s not rocket science. One group of hotels I enjoy frequenting are the quality choice hotels, when you ask for a wheelchair accessible room, you get exactly what you need, but I do have one complaint regarding the en suite, although it is quiet spacious and actually even has a roll in shower which I was pleasantly surprised to see, there was one main ingredient missing “the shower chair”. How am I to shower? How am I to get from the bed to the shower? Use my wheelchair? It doesn’t take much for people who are in business which cater to the public to get advice in these matters, but we are the minority and that has been proven when you see the amount of rooms any given hotel out there has so called adapted for the disabled.My least pleasant stay would have been in a hotel in Co. Cork. That was a joke, wheelchair accessible room was upstairs, only thing was that the lift didn’t stop on that floor. So you had to go through the back yard, where all the crap was kept, then you had to wait to make sure a member of staff had the keys for the back door to gain access to the “wheelchair accessible” room, but that really didn’t matter as you could use the time well by warming up before you tackled the ramp leading up to the back door, and as you can see there is no point in going into more detail as to what this hotel catered for, but I did have the pleasure in filling out a comment card I was so graciously handed upon leaving, Personally I think there just isn’t enough room on them cards to really elaborate your true feelings.
Before I go; I must exercise my vote even though I am informed once again that my local polling station is inaccessible and I will have to use another station (N.S.) “So much for education” that has a makeshift ramp around the back of the buildingYes I know “able bodied have feelings too”. But the sooner this country gets with the times the better it will be for all of us.
Tom Chambers
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Newport.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Martin says YES to Lisbon Treaty
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Cllr Keith Martin's Blog
Lisbon video competition
Posted: 13 May 2008 08:05 AM CDT
The Labour Party wants students both 2nd and 3rd level to create short YouTube videos to engage the Irish public in learning about and supporting the Lisbon Treaty.
Students of all levels of familiarity with video production are encouraged to produce a one-minute short illustrating why they support the Lisbon Treaty. The style of videos can be humorous, such as Australia's hilarious and pointed "What have the Unions ever done for us?" (check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184NTV2CE_c) or simply factual.
The Labour Party is offering a €1,000 prize for the best entry promoting a 'Yes' vote on the Lisbon Treaty. All interested second- and third-level students are greatly encouraged to make a submission.
For more information on what the treaty will do and its merits, visit www.labour.ie/lisbonreformtreaty/.
All submissions may be sent to http://premium.ireland.com/scripts/mail/compose.mail?compose=1&.ob=74464c8dcb2a7b97935b882e71bea74ab5859be9&composeto=campaigns@labour.ie&composecc=&subject=&body= in .WMV, .AVI, .MOV and .MPG formats (any format that is compatible with YouTube). The deadline for entries is June 1st.
Labour's Lisbon Campaign
Posted: 13 May 2008 08:01 AM CDT
Labour's campaign
Eight reasons to vote Yes, according to the Labour Party.
Lisbon promotes our values;
Lisbon strengthens social rights;
Lisbon respects Ireland's neutrality;
Lisbon deepens the rights of citizens;
Lisbon fights global poverty;
Lisbon enhances the role of the Dáil;
Lisbon protects public services;
Lisbon tackles climate change.
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Cllr Keith Martin's Blog
Lisbon video competition
Posted: 13 May 2008 08:05 AM CDT
The Labour Party wants students both 2nd and 3rd level to create short YouTube videos to engage the Irish public in learning about and supporting the Lisbon Treaty.
Students of all levels of familiarity with video production are encouraged to produce a one-minute short illustrating why they support the Lisbon Treaty. The style of videos can be humorous, such as Australia's hilarious and pointed "What have the Unions ever done for us?" (check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184NTV2CE_c) or simply factual.
The Labour Party is offering a €1,000 prize for the best entry promoting a 'Yes' vote on the Lisbon Treaty. All interested second- and third-level students are greatly encouraged to make a submission.
For more information on what the treaty will do and its merits, visit www.labour.ie/lisbonreformtreaty/.
All submissions may be sent to http://premium.ireland.com/scripts/mail/compose.mail?compose=1&.ob=74464c8dcb2a7b97935b882e71bea74ab5859be9&composeto=campaigns@labour.ie&composecc=&subject=&body= in .WMV, .AVI, .MOV and .MPG formats (any format that is compatible with YouTube). The deadline for entries is June 1st.
Labour's Lisbon Campaign
Posted: 13 May 2008 08:01 AM CDT
Labour's campaign
Eight reasons to vote Yes, according to the Labour Party.
Lisbon promotes our values;
Lisbon strengthens social rights;
Lisbon respects Ireland's neutrality;
Lisbon deepens the rights of citizens;
Lisbon fights global poverty;
Lisbon enhances the role of the Dáil;
Lisbon protects public services;
Lisbon tackles climate change.
You are subscribed to email updates from Councillor Keith Martin's website To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.
Email Delivery powered by FeedBurner
Inbox too full? Subscribe to the feed version of Councillor Keith Martin's website in a feed reader.
If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: Councillor Keith Martin's website, c/o FeedBurner, 20 W Kinzie, 9th Floor, Chicago IL USA 60610
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Friday, May 09, 2008
BARCELONA DECLARATION
DECLARATION
On the occasion of the European Congress "The City and the Disabled", held in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 and 24 March 1995, the undersigning cities assume:
1) That the Dignity and Worth of a person are conditions inherent to all human beings, regardless of sex, creed, age and capabilities.
2) That Deficiency and Disability, according to the concepts set forth in the United Nations' World Action Program for the Disabled, are matters that affect society as a whole, not only individual persons and their family members.
3) That Disability is a dynamic concept, resulting from the interaction between individual skills and the conditions of the surroundings in which such skills are manifested. It is, thus, the responsibility of the community and of its social organization to promote more favorable conditions for the full development of persons, avoiding or removing all causes that hinder or prevent such development.
4) That the City, as a common form of social organization used in all the diverse cultures throughout our planet, must equip itself with the necessary means and resources to promote equal opportunities and the well-being and participation of all its inhabitants.
5) That the limits between "normality" and disability are ill-defined, and therefore it is necessary to consider
the differences between citizens as a part of the diversity of which society is made up, designing services and structures so that they can be used by everyone, and making unnecessary, in most cases, the existence of specific elements for disabled persons.
Therefore, the undersigning cities adopt the agreements
that hereinafter shall be known as the Declaration of "Cities and the Disabled" and they hereby agree to:
a) Promote the-Declaration of "Cities and the Disabled" in various national and international forums, fostering the maximum adherence possible to its principles and premises.
b) Initiate processes of collaboration allowing for full application of the agreements reflected in the Declaration of "Cities and the Disabled", garnering the necessary cooperation from higher territorial entities.
c) Establish communication channels between the various cities to stimulate and support advances in the promotion of equal opportunities for their disabled citizens, to promote consistency in information, especially with regard to signs and symbols, and, in general, to promote the harmonization of municipal policies aimed at these citizens.
And therefore, they declare:
PREAMBLE
That disabled persons are fully entitled members of the communities in which they reside, and their condition is acknowledged in various international conventions, especially in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Pact for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Pact for Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on Children's Rights, the Declaration of Rights for the Disabled, and the Declaration of Rights for Mentally Retarded Persons.
That disabled persons are entitled to receive attention for their individual and social needs in the context of the provisions for the general population, as well as to promote their development as persons, allowing them to interrelate with the rest of the population, respecting their individual circumstances.
That disabled persons are entitled to technical and social aid which may minimize the consequences of their disabilities, and to be the beneficiaries of policies ensuring equal opportunities, a right upheld by Resolution 48/96, dated 4 March 1994, of the General Assembly of the United Nations regarding "Unified Rules on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons".
That disabled persons are entitled to equal opportunities as citizens recognized in a society which is plural and respectful of the difference and diversity of the individuals who make them up. They are also entitled to participate in the social affairs of their community without restriction and to the enjoyment of the welfare that the development of this community may generate.
AGREEMENTS
I) The Municipal Governments will promote better awareness of disabled persons, their rights, their needs, their potentials and their contributions among the general public.
II) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, ensure the disabled persons' right to be different, and their right to receive personalized attention depending on their needs.
III) The Municipal Governments will promote and support the diffusion of informative campaigns that promote a real image of disabled persons, free from bias and prejudice, and, in general, stimulate the integration of disabled persons and the normalization of their relations with their physical and social surroundings which may allow them to optimize their relationship with them.
IV) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, establish systems to provide efficient information to disabled citizens regarding matters which affect them and, especially, promote awareness of their rights and obligations, as well as the provisions established to promote their equalitarian development, promoting the necessary coordination between the different public administrations in order to provide improved coordination of their respective actions.
V) The Municipal Governments will ensure the access of disabled persons to information generated by the Community.
VI) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, promote and ensure the access of disabled persons to cultural, sporting, and recreational activities and, in general, to the participatory coexistence with the community.
VII) The Municipal Governments will ensure the access of disabled persons to general and, if necessary, special services, in the fields of health care, rehabilitation, education, work and social services when these fall within their area of competence. They will also encourage observance of this principle when such services are offered by other public or private organizations.
VIII) The Municipal Governments will establish support services tending to the daily needs of disabled persons in order to make it possible for them to remain in their family homes and thus prevent institutionalization in health-care facilities. In the rendering of these services both personal decisions and the right to privacy of the user will be respected and upheld.
IX) The Municipal Governments will promote systems facilitating access to housing according to the personal and economic circumstances of the disabled.
X) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, adopt measures towards the necessary adaptation of urban spaces, buildings and services of all types, in order to allow full use by disabled persons.
XI) The Municipal Governments will adopt the necessary measures ensuring free mobility of disabled persons throughout the city, and special care will be taken to adapt regular means of passenger transport, and will establish, for those disabled persons who by reason of their disability are denied access, alternative services and special economic conditions to ensure their mobility on equal terms with the rest of the population.
XII) The Municipal Governments will establish measures to ensure the performance of studies and analyses which may provide new elements aimed at improving the quality of life of disabled persons, and promote prevention, detection, diagnostic and early-detection programs.
XIII) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, promote and ensure the participation of disabled persons and their representative organizations in decision-making processes dealing with affairs which, either generally or specifically, may affect them.
XIV) The Municipal Governments will enter into cooperation agreements and conventions with city organizations representing disabled persons, in order to cooperate in their activities and agree to overall and consistent actions.
XV) The Municipal Governments will establish permanent skill-providing and training systems aimed at city personnel in order to ensure adequate comprehension and attention to the needs of the disabled.
XVI) The Municipal Governments, within their area of competence and in cooperation with their city's organizations for disabled persons, will draw up action plans consistent with this Declaration. Such plans must include execution and evaluation deadlines.
XVII) The Municipal Governments will adopt measures tending towards the unification and universalization of rules and regulations, provisions, and the adoption of signal systems and adequate media vehicles for each type of disability, facilitating their full integration in society and in order to make their conditions fully equal to those of the rest of the citizenry. In order to advance in the fulfillment of this goal, the undersigning Municipal Governments will promote, through their international municipal organizations, the passing of rules on the part of pertinent European organizations, establishing the minimum requirements that Municipal Governments must take into account in terms of objectives, programs and budgets making possible the accomplishment of the agreements in this Declaration within a reasonable period of time.
Barcelona, 24 March 1995
On the occasion of the European Congress "The City and the Disabled", held in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 and 24 March 1995, the undersigning cities assume:
1) That the Dignity and Worth of a person are conditions inherent to all human beings, regardless of sex, creed, age and capabilities.
2) That Deficiency and Disability, according to the concepts set forth in the United Nations' World Action Program for the Disabled, are matters that affect society as a whole, not only individual persons and their family members.
3) That Disability is a dynamic concept, resulting from the interaction between individual skills and the conditions of the surroundings in which such skills are manifested. It is, thus, the responsibility of the community and of its social organization to promote more favorable conditions for the full development of persons, avoiding or removing all causes that hinder or prevent such development.
4) That the City, as a common form of social organization used in all the diverse cultures throughout our planet, must equip itself with the necessary means and resources to promote equal opportunities and the well-being and participation of all its inhabitants.
5) That the limits between "normality" and disability are ill-defined, and therefore it is necessary to consider
the differences between citizens as a part of the diversity of which society is made up, designing services and structures so that they can be used by everyone, and making unnecessary, in most cases, the existence of specific elements for disabled persons.
Therefore, the undersigning cities adopt the agreements
that hereinafter shall be known as the Declaration of "Cities and the Disabled" and they hereby agree to:
a) Promote the-Declaration of "Cities and the Disabled" in various national and international forums, fostering the maximum adherence possible to its principles and premises.
b) Initiate processes of collaboration allowing for full application of the agreements reflected in the Declaration of "Cities and the Disabled", garnering the necessary cooperation from higher territorial entities.
c) Establish communication channels between the various cities to stimulate and support advances in the promotion of equal opportunities for their disabled citizens, to promote consistency in information, especially with regard to signs and symbols, and, in general, to promote the harmonization of municipal policies aimed at these citizens.
And therefore, they declare:
PREAMBLE
That disabled persons are fully entitled members of the communities in which they reside, and their condition is acknowledged in various international conventions, especially in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Pact for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Pact for Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on Children's Rights, the Declaration of Rights for the Disabled, and the Declaration of Rights for Mentally Retarded Persons.
That disabled persons are entitled to receive attention for their individual and social needs in the context of the provisions for the general population, as well as to promote their development as persons, allowing them to interrelate with the rest of the population, respecting their individual circumstances.
That disabled persons are entitled to technical and social aid which may minimize the consequences of their disabilities, and to be the beneficiaries of policies ensuring equal opportunities, a right upheld by Resolution 48/96, dated 4 March 1994, of the General Assembly of the United Nations regarding "Unified Rules on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons".
That disabled persons are entitled to equal opportunities as citizens recognized in a society which is plural and respectful of the difference and diversity of the individuals who make them up. They are also entitled to participate in the social affairs of their community without restriction and to the enjoyment of the welfare that the development of this community may generate.
AGREEMENTS
I) The Municipal Governments will promote better awareness of disabled persons, their rights, their needs, their potentials and their contributions among the general public.
II) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, ensure the disabled persons' right to be different, and their right to receive personalized attention depending on their needs.
III) The Municipal Governments will promote and support the diffusion of informative campaigns that promote a real image of disabled persons, free from bias and prejudice, and, in general, stimulate the integration of disabled persons and the normalization of their relations with their physical and social surroundings which may allow them to optimize their relationship with them.
IV) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, establish systems to provide efficient information to disabled citizens regarding matters which affect them and, especially, promote awareness of their rights and obligations, as well as the provisions established to promote their equalitarian development, promoting the necessary coordination between the different public administrations in order to provide improved coordination of their respective actions.
V) The Municipal Governments will ensure the access of disabled persons to information generated by the Community.
VI) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, promote and ensure the access of disabled persons to cultural, sporting, and recreational activities and, in general, to the participatory coexistence with the community.
VII) The Municipal Governments will ensure the access of disabled persons to general and, if necessary, special services, in the fields of health care, rehabilitation, education, work and social services when these fall within their area of competence. They will also encourage observance of this principle when such services are offered by other public or private organizations.
VIII) The Municipal Governments will establish support services tending to the daily needs of disabled persons in order to make it possible for them to remain in their family homes and thus prevent institutionalization in health-care facilities. In the rendering of these services both personal decisions and the right to privacy of the user will be respected and upheld.
IX) The Municipal Governments will promote systems facilitating access to housing according to the personal and economic circumstances of the disabled.
X) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, adopt measures towards the necessary adaptation of urban spaces, buildings and services of all types, in order to allow full use by disabled persons.
XI) The Municipal Governments will adopt the necessary measures ensuring free mobility of disabled persons throughout the city, and special care will be taken to adapt regular means of passenger transport, and will establish, for those disabled persons who by reason of their disability are denied access, alternative services and special economic conditions to ensure their mobility on equal terms with the rest of the population.
XII) The Municipal Governments will establish measures to ensure the performance of studies and analyses which may provide new elements aimed at improving the quality of life of disabled persons, and promote prevention, detection, diagnostic and early-detection programs.
XIII) The Municipal Governments will, within their area of competence, promote and ensure the participation of disabled persons and their representative organizations in decision-making processes dealing with affairs which, either generally or specifically, may affect them.
XIV) The Municipal Governments will enter into cooperation agreements and conventions with city organizations representing disabled persons, in order to cooperate in their activities and agree to overall and consistent actions.
XV) The Municipal Governments will establish permanent skill-providing and training systems aimed at city personnel in order to ensure adequate comprehension and attention to the needs of the disabled.
XVI) The Municipal Governments, within their area of competence and in cooperation with their city's organizations for disabled persons, will draw up action plans consistent with this Declaration. Such plans must include execution and evaluation deadlines.
XVII) The Municipal Governments will adopt measures tending towards the unification and universalization of rules and regulations, provisions, and the adoption of signal systems and adequate media vehicles for each type of disability, facilitating their full integration in society and in order to make their conditions fully equal to those of the rest of the citizenry. In order to advance in the fulfillment of this goal, the undersigning Municipal Governments will promote, through their international municipal organizations, the passing of rules on the part of pertinent European organizations, establishing the minimum requirements that Municipal Governments must take into account in terms of objectives, programs and budgets making possible the accomplishment of the agreements in this Declaration within a reasonable period of time.
Barcelona, 24 March 1995
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
An uphill chalenge and up for it
It’s summertime but the living’ isn’t as easy as it might seem to be. An evening sun settles on the streets of Ballina.
Its Thursday and Tom Chambers has just arrived in to town from Newport a man on a mission, he comes laden with leaflets. Documentation outlining the lofty ambitions that the 1995 Barcelona declaration imposed on local authorities across the continent in relation to the right of people with disabilities to equal opportunities. Correspondence exchanged with various government departments, mayo County Council, and Ballina town Council, dating back to 1998,on issues that have not gone away. He brings cuttings from newspapers and excerpts from parliamentary questions time in Dail Eireann.
He comes accompanied by local town councillor, Peter Clarke. Prior to last summers elections Sinn Fein candidate for Ballina Town Council approached Tom Chambers with a view to placing access for the disabled on the election canvass. He followed up this commitment by partaking in an audit of public buildings in town to access the problems faced by people like Tom Chambers, who is wheel-chair bound. This evening the pair are back on the beaten path.
In February of this year, Tom Chambers contacted 31 councillors’ in Mayo by e-mail, Introducing himself as an access officer and disability campaigner, and inviting each to join his endeavour to implement the Barcelona Declaration. His documentation records four replies ,three from the Westport electoral area, and one from Cllr Clarke in the Ballina region.
Tom Chambers refers to a paper cutting in the midst of his paper trail, an article dating back to October 2003when Ballina councillors “moved” to make their town more accessible for wheelchair users with the formation of a sub-committee to address the issue.
“local representatives’ were expressing their views about the town, but what have they done to alleviate the fears of the persons who wrote to them, ”asks Tom Chambers, a wheelchair user for 25 years.
“I would put it to them that if they are to implement the Barcelona Declaration, Wheelchair users should be included from day one ,not invited when the so called experts have done a bit of work.”
During the next two-and-a half hours, as the perspective of a wheelchair user in Ballina is painstaking revealed Tom Chambers will point out to umpteen situations where the “experts” have failed to meet his requirements as a wheelchair user.
“it seems to me that engineers and architects are often not signing off on work that planning permission has been secured for” he says in exasperated tones at one juncture.
He has parked on one-way O Rahilly street at the disabled drivers space close to where Peter Clarke’s seafood business is located. Immediately the absence of uniform parking bay for disabled drivers is readily identifiable in most of Europe with its distinctive blue background and white logo at its centre.
Tonight that parking space is vacant. Its not always the case. Two years ago the department of Transport indicated to Tom chambers that it would consider the inclusion of illegal parking in designated disabled persons parking bays in the penalty points scheme.
“this would have to be justified on grounds of road safety and it would limit enforcement in that if it was a penalty point offence it could only be enforced by An Garda Siochana,” Tom Chambers says, producing the letter from (then)minister Seamus Brennan’s private secretary. From the same file he sequesters documentation received from the Minister of the Environment in June 2004 in reply to an enquiry by fine Gael T D Michael Ring about special funding to provide for footpath adaptation to provide crossings and dish kerbs for wheel chair users.” the selection of works to be funded from grants is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority,” come the reply.
Superbly versed in this sector ,Tom Chambers understands that € 350,000 has been set aside for 2005 roads programme in the Ballina electoral area. Of this 44 percent is ring-fenced for work on paths. How much of this money has been invested in Ballina’s pathways thus far ,he asks.
From the parking space closer to the bottom of O Rahilly Street, Tom Chambers commences the steep haul towards the top of the street where he can gain access to the footpath. Eventually ,as the going get tough, he has to request the assistance of Peter Clarke. Tom Chambers has completed the Dublin City Marathon on four occasions. Turning on to Bury Street it is a monumental struggle to keep his chair on the footpath which narrows alarmingly on the corner. Again some tightrope balancing is required.
At the disabled parking spaces at diamonds Car Park off Bury street, he highlights the crucial need for bays on either side of disabled parking space to allow the disabled driver the space to get out of the car on either side.
At the entrance to Market Lane a sign overhead reads ,”Access to Town Centre”, this is irony in its mendacious form .the negation of Market Lane ,a relatively new shopping district, is nothing short of a nightmare for the wheelchair user. A veritable downhill maze, it leaves tom Chambers skidding out of control in places, reaching for handrails which are either out of reach or dislodged from their concrete foundations. A gradient of 1;20 is recommended in such a situation as are a second ,lower handrail,75mm raised kerbs on open sides and slip -resistant surfaces.” imagine what this would be like on a wet day “ observes tom Chambers. One cringes at the possibilities.
The shape of the handrails here are appropriate and properly sized ,but it’s a different story further down the street where flat, rust-friendly handrails offer no assistance on only one side of a ramp for wheelchair users outside prominent business. Outside Ballina Civic offices, Tom Chambers again struggles to maintain control on the footpath’s uneven layout, and eventually has to call Peter Clarke again. The disabled parking space her is hardly easy to negotiate either .the driver must get out in to the flow of traffic ,and a water drain inhibits the location of the wheelchair. To gain access to the footpath from here, the wheelchair user must return-in the face of traffic-to the traffic lights some 75yards away, around the corner at Dunne’s Stores. I have been approached by people living in Ballina with disabilities and asked to highlight the everyday problems that they are facing. Tom Chambers explains why we are here tonight
From his library of information, he finally produces the ‘disability proofing template for local Government, a hand book issued by the National Disability Authority on the implementation of the Barcelona Declaration
“the ultimate aim and potential of the disability proofing template is to facilitate local authorities in creating a more inclusive society for everyone,” the introduction reads.
“In fulfilling the Declaration Agreement each local authority undertakes to raise disability awareness and to engage in consultative process with disabled people.”
The introduction concludes with definition of disability in this context. It is “the disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by a contempary social organisation which takes little or no account of people (with disabilities)and thus excludes them from participation in the mainstream of social activities”. and right now, Tom Chambers is feeling more than a little bit left out . But he’s not going away.
Its Thursday and Tom Chambers has just arrived in to town from Newport a man on a mission, he comes laden with leaflets. Documentation outlining the lofty ambitions that the 1995 Barcelona declaration imposed on local authorities across the continent in relation to the right of people with disabilities to equal opportunities. Correspondence exchanged with various government departments, mayo County Council, and Ballina town Council, dating back to 1998,on issues that have not gone away. He brings cuttings from newspapers and excerpts from parliamentary questions time in Dail Eireann.
He comes accompanied by local town councillor, Peter Clarke. Prior to last summers elections Sinn Fein candidate for Ballina Town Council approached Tom Chambers with a view to placing access for the disabled on the election canvass. He followed up this commitment by partaking in an audit of public buildings in town to access the problems faced by people like Tom Chambers, who is wheel-chair bound. This evening the pair are back on the beaten path.
In February of this year, Tom Chambers contacted 31 councillors’ in Mayo by e-mail, Introducing himself as an access officer and disability campaigner, and inviting each to join his endeavour to implement the Barcelona Declaration. His documentation records four replies ,three from the Westport electoral area, and one from Cllr Clarke in the Ballina region.
Tom Chambers refers to a paper cutting in the midst of his paper trail, an article dating back to October 2003when Ballina councillors “moved” to make their town more accessible for wheelchair users with the formation of a sub-committee to address the issue.
“local representatives’ were expressing their views about the town, but what have they done to alleviate the fears of the persons who wrote to them, ”asks Tom Chambers, a wheelchair user for 25 years.
“I would put it to them that if they are to implement the Barcelona Declaration, Wheelchair users should be included from day one ,not invited when the so called experts have done a bit of work.”
During the next two-and-a half hours, as the perspective of a wheelchair user in Ballina is painstaking revealed Tom Chambers will point out to umpteen situations where the “experts” have failed to meet his requirements as a wheelchair user.
“it seems to me that engineers and architects are often not signing off on work that planning permission has been secured for” he says in exasperated tones at one juncture.
He has parked on one-way O Rahilly street at the disabled drivers space close to where Peter Clarke’s seafood business is located. Immediately the absence of uniform parking bay for disabled drivers is readily identifiable in most of Europe with its distinctive blue background and white logo at its centre.
Tonight that parking space is vacant. Its not always the case. Two years ago the department of Transport indicated to Tom chambers that it would consider the inclusion of illegal parking in designated disabled persons parking bays in the penalty points scheme.
“this would have to be justified on grounds of road safety and it would limit enforcement in that if it was a penalty point offence it could only be enforced by An Garda Siochana,” Tom Chambers says, producing the letter from (then)minister Seamus Brennan’s private secretary. From the same file he sequesters documentation received from the Minister of the Environment in June 2004 in reply to an enquiry by fine Gael T D Michael Ring about special funding to provide for footpath adaptation to provide crossings and dish kerbs for wheel chair users.” the selection of works to be funded from grants is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority,” come the reply.
Superbly versed in this sector ,Tom Chambers understands that € 350,000 has been set aside for 2005 roads programme in the Ballina electoral area. Of this 44 percent is ring-fenced for work on paths. How much of this money has been invested in Ballina’s pathways thus far ,he asks.
From the parking space closer to the bottom of O Rahilly Street, Tom Chambers commences the steep haul towards the top of the street where he can gain access to the footpath. Eventually ,as the going get tough, he has to request the assistance of Peter Clarke. Tom Chambers has completed the Dublin City Marathon on four occasions. Turning on to Bury Street it is a monumental struggle to keep his chair on the footpath which narrows alarmingly on the corner. Again some tightrope balancing is required.
At the disabled parking spaces at diamonds Car Park off Bury street, he highlights the crucial need for bays on either side of disabled parking space to allow the disabled driver the space to get out of the car on either side.
At the entrance to Market Lane a sign overhead reads ,”Access to Town Centre”, this is irony in its mendacious form .the negation of Market Lane ,a relatively new shopping district, is nothing short of a nightmare for the wheelchair user. A veritable downhill maze, it leaves tom Chambers skidding out of control in places, reaching for handrails which are either out of reach or dislodged from their concrete foundations. A gradient of 1;20 is recommended in such a situation as are a second ,lower handrail,75mm raised kerbs on open sides and slip -resistant surfaces.” imagine what this would be like on a wet day “ observes tom Chambers. One cringes at the possibilities.
The shape of the handrails here are appropriate and properly sized ,but it’s a different story further down the street where flat, rust-friendly handrails offer no assistance on only one side of a ramp for wheelchair users outside prominent business. Outside Ballina Civic offices, Tom Chambers again struggles to maintain control on the footpath’s uneven layout, and eventually has to call Peter Clarke again. The disabled parking space her is hardly easy to negotiate either .the driver must get out in to the flow of traffic ,and a water drain inhibits the location of the wheelchair. To gain access to the footpath from here, the wheelchair user must return-in the face of traffic-to the traffic lights some 75yards away, around the corner at Dunne’s Stores. I have been approached by people living in Ballina with disabilities and asked to highlight the everyday problems that they are facing. Tom Chambers explains why we are here tonight
From his library of information, he finally produces the ‘disability proofing template for local Government, a hand book issued by the National Disability Authority on the implementation of the Barcelona Declaration
“the ultimate aim and potential of the disability proofing template is to facilitate local authorities in creating a more inclusive society for everyone,” the introduction reads.
“In fulfilling the Declaration Agreement each local authority undertakes to raise disability awareness and to engage in consultative process with disabled people.”
The introduction concludes with definition of disability in this context. It is “the disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by a contempary social organisation which takes little or no account of people (with disabilities)and thus excludes them from participation in the mainstream of social activities”. and right now, Tom Chambers is feeling more than a little bit left out . But he’s not going away.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Re: parking at Knock Airport
Letter received on the 23rd April 2008 from Marian Harhin (MEP)
Dear Tom,
I have made enquiries on the matter you spoke to me about when we last met in Claremorris on the 9th March 2008. The situation is that the Disabled Parking Permit scheme opperates under EU regulations and is valid in all European Union States.
With regard to disabled parking at Knock Airport, she informed me that if one goes to Customer Services or indeed Security they will photocopy ones disc which can be left on ones car while one is away and can bring the origional disc wiht you.
Dear Tom,
I have made enquiries on the matter you spoke to me about when we last met in Claremorris on the 9th March 2008. The situation is that the Disabled Parking Permit scheme opperates under EU regulations and is valid in all European Union States.
With regard to disabled parking at Knock Airport, she informed me that if one goes to Customer Services or indeed Security they will photocopy ones disc which can be left on ones car while one is away and can bring the origional disc wiht you.
Uachtarán na hÉireann
Mrs. Mary McAleese
Áras an Uachtaráin
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8
A Uachtaráin,
I write to you as a last resort in an effort to request that you do not sign the Disability Bill 2004 into law. As an Irish Citizen of the Irish State, and as a disabled person I ask that you refer this Bill to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality under Article 40.3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann under which the State "guarantees in its laws to respect, and as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate the personal rights of the citizen". The Disability community has repeatedly informed Government through the established consultation process that this Bill is totally flawed and fundamentally inadequate, without the points listed below
1. There must be a clear and unequivocal right to anassessment of need, which must not be resource-dependent2. The services identified in the assessment of need foran individual must be provided within a reasonable and agreed timeframe3 .The Bill must provide for clear protection ofdisability-specific resources4 The provisions regarding Sectoral Plans must takeaccount of the wider needs of people with disabilities. Each governmentdepartment with relevant services must provide a Sectoral Plan5 .The Bill must provide for a clear statutory duty on allgovernment departments and public bodies to include people with disabilitiesin their plans and services with appropriate monitoring and accountabilityA Uachtaráin, as you can see the Government have railroaded the said Bill through both Houses of the Oireachtas, allowing little opportunity the Opposition parties to put amendments for change to the Bill.
A Uachtaráin, if you sign this Bill you will be going against the wishes of the 495,000 persons with disabilities in this State and their families.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Mary McAleese
Áras an Uachtaráin
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8
A Uachtaráin,
I write to you as a last resort in an effort to request that you do not sign the Disability Bill 2004 into law. As an Irish Citizen of the Irish State, and as a disabled person I ask that you refer this Bill to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality under Article 40.3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann under which the State "guarantees in its laws to respect, and as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate the personal rights of the citizen". The Disability community has repeatedly informed Government through the established consultation process that this Bill is totally flawed and fundamentally inadequate, without the points listed below
1. There must be a clear and unequivocal right to anassessment of need, which must not be resource-dependent2. The services identified in the assessment of need foran individual must be provided within a reasonable and agreed timeframe3 .The Bill must provide for clear protection ofdisability-specific resources4 The provisions regarding Sectoral Plans must takeaccount of the wider needs of people with disabilities. Each governmentdepartment with relevant services must provide a Sectoral Plan5 .The Bill must provide for a clear statutory duty on allgovernment departments and public bodies to include people with disabilitiesin their plans and services with appropriate monitoring and accountabilityA Uachtaráin, as you can see the Government have railroaded the said Bill through both Houses of the Oireachtas, allowing little opportunity the Opposition parties to put amendments for change to the Bill.
A Uachtaráin, if you sign this Bill you will be going against the wishes of the 495,000 persons with disabilities in this State and their families.
Yours sincerely,
Euro airports lift disabled cost
Disabled passengers with all airlines will be guaranteed free assistance at all airports, EU Transport Ministers have agreed. The new law will prevent any dis-crimination to people with a disability, with safety reasons the only exception. The new rules will apply to all airlines, including Ryanair, which fought a case in the UK over whether it or Stansted Airport should pay for the cost of transporting a passenger in a wheelchair through the terminal.
The airline currently imposes a 35 cent levy on all passengers to cover the cost of assistance for disabled passengers. The only condition attached to the law is that passengers requiring a wheelchair must notify the airport 48 hours in advance. Under the new rules, airports must provide the service. At Dublin Airport, for example, a private firm operates the service for most airlines. The move was welco0med by Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who said that there is no opt-out clause.
Disabled passengers with all airlines will be guaranteed free assistance at all airports, EU Transport Ministers have agreed. The new law will prevent any dis-crimination to people with a disability, with safety reasons the only exception. The new rules will apply to all airlines, including Ryanair, which fought a case in the UK over whether it or Stansted Airport should pay for the cost of transporting a passenger in a wheelchair through the terminal.
The airline currently imposes a 35 cent levy on all passengers to cover the cost of assistance for disabled passengers. The only condition attached to the law is that passengers requiring a wheelchair must notify the airport 48 hours in advance. Under the new rules, airports must provide the service. At Dublin Airport, for example, a private firm operates the service for most airlines. The move was welco0med by Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who said that there is no opt-out clause.
Back, Geofrey Bourdouxhe (Coach)
Front, Sam Mayerus (Athlete) Tom Chambers (Host)
On a spring morning in 1981 Tom Chambers’ life changed forever. A car accident near Drogheda snapped the Newport man’s spine and left him paralysed from the chest down. This week he talks to Michael Gallagher about his life and the joy he takes from living every day to the full.
By Michael Gallagher, Reporter for the Western People, (County Paper)
Tom Chambers loves to talk. He has a way of telling stories that brings the past to life and the tale of his existence so far is one, which generates a great sense of hope and determination.
Born in Rockfleet just outside Newport he grew up surrounded by seven brothers, eight sisters and parents Mick and Maud. He enjoyed life, going to school, doing the chores and playing games the way kids do. He loved sport and was soon playing football with the local teams.
"I enjoyed playing football and in 1964 we had a great minor team in the area. We were called Mulranny but we drew lads from the whole region stretching from Ballycroy to Kilmeena. I was lucky enough to captain the team and on one special evening in McHale Park we beat Ballina Stephenites in the County league final. That was a famous team and we had some fine footballers like Joe McAndrew, Stephen Conway and Christy Loftus. I scored 1-9 that evening and it is a game I will never forget. Later that year we won the West championship but lost the county semi-final to a Jimmy Duggan-inspired Claremorris. I loved the games and the excitement and will never forget those special days."
He spent happy times learning the painting trade from Sean Kelly and in 1964 when Burrishoole GAA team went to London on tour Tom was in the party. He saw the abundance of work available in the English capital and was soon back there looking for a start.
"I worked all over England from Birmingham to Ipswich and Bristol to Norwich. I followed the work, the money was good and the craic was mighty. I played some football around London with St. Jarlath’s and St. Pat’s in Luton and enjoyed life. There were lots of lads from home over there and when there was a big match on in Ireland like an All-Ireland Final we all gathered to listen to it on the radio. We would tie the radio and the aerial to a lamppost and gather around it listening in silence. The locals didn’t know what was happening and often called the police who would come along and often listen to the game with us."
Tom enjoyed life in England but in the autumn of 1980 he returned to Dublin where the building boom was just about to begin. He wasn’t long there when fate intervened and changed his life forever. On March 30th 1981 the car he was driving hit a wall just outside Drogheda with devastating consequences.
"I wasn’t found for five hours after the accident and when they got to the car I was trapped under a pile of stone from the wall. I could only tell them my name and was then taken to a hospital in Drogheda before being flown to the Central Remedial Clinic in DunLaoighre.
"That day back in Mayo my parents were going to Mass when they heard on the radio that a man named Tom Chambers had been in a serious accident near Drogheda but they never thought it was me as I was living in Dublin at the time."
Soon they learned that it was indeed their son who had been injured in the accident and life would never be the same again. In DunLaoighre Tom was asking the nurses could he soon go home as there was a lot of concrete being delivered that week but it wasn’t long before he realised that he was in serious trouble.
"I looked around me and saw some frightening sights. Fine people lying there in beds unable to move a muscle and I knew that I had some major problems but I also realised that I was very lucky. There was an Irish rugby international there called Gus Barrett who had passed his final exams in dentistry only days before his life was turned upside down and I thanked God that I was as good as I was."
Months of physio and hard work were put in before Tom saw Rockfleet again but in December he arrived home full of trepidation about what the future held.
"I was very nervous wondering what would happen if something went wrong but there was no need to worry, everything worked out fine."
Fundraising locally and in London and Cleveland meant that Tom could buy a car and soon he was on the open road. He valued his independence and later moved to a house of his own in nearby Newport. He settled into life in West Mayo and could often be found driving a carload of friends to dances all over the county. The man from Rockfleet wasn’t going to sit around complaining about the hand he had been dealt.
Then in October 1985 the local sergeant Tom Rochford, set him a challenge. He believed that Chambers was capable of competing in the Dublin City Marathon and told him he would support him all the way. Tom took up the challenge and the rest is history.
He trained four or five hours every day. Rochford, Martin O’ Malley, Kevin McManamon and a local committee secured funding for a new lighter wheelchair and after endless preparation and a few local half-marathons Tom found himself on the starting line for the 1986 marathon.
"Bertie Ahern was the Lord Mayor of Dublin at the time sent us on our way. I was going well at first until one of the front wheels came loose on the chair but I pulled into a garage and borrowed a spanner, which kept me going until I got to the service vehicle."
Soon he was back on course again and as he raced down the Malahide Road a special Mayo lady shouted out her support.
"Rosaline Gallagher was they’re urging me on and I got great courage from that. She had done so much on the sporting scene worldwide as a disabled athlete and had Olympic medals, I was honoured that she turned out to wish me luck as she herself was also from Mayo."
The Newport man raced onwards and as he went up Westland Row a spectator shouted that there was only a mile to go.
"For the first time in the race I thought about the distance I had travelled and I put in a special effort to get to the finish because there were a few people in Newport and surrounding areas who had doubted my ability to finish."
Soon Tom had crossed the line and one of his life’s’ ambitions had been achieved. He would complete another two marathons and numerous other distances in the following years as his fame spread far and wide. The man from Rockfleet became one of Newport’s best-known residents.
These days Tom doesn’t race anymore but he still keeps in touch with the people he met on the athletics trail. He waits anxiously for the opportunity to help another Mayo wheelchair athlete enter the racing game. His head is filled with tips for aspiring racers and he knows someday that another Mayo racer will scorch through the Dublin streets.
His days are filled with the IT lessons he gives in Mayo Tech and the designs he makes for wheelchair accessible buildings. He is enjoying life in Newport and is thankful for the hand life has dealt him.
"If I hadn’t run into that wall I might be dead now, who knows? I have a great life filled with wonderful people and remember it’s only my legs that are paralysed, not my brain."
The man who has packed more into his life than many others has a lot of living to do. He is already planning his next project and the ones after that. Tom Chambers is a unique man, one of Newport’s finest.
Front, Sam Mayerus (Athlete) Tom Chambers (Host)
On a spring morning in 1981 Tom Chambers’ life changed forever. A car accident near Drogheda snapped the Newport man’s spine and left him paralysed from the chest down. This week he talks to Michael Gallagher about his life and the joy he takes from living every day to the full.
By Michael Gallagher, Reporter for the Western People, (County Paper)
Tom Chambers loves to talk. He has a way of telling stories that brings the past to life and the tale of his existence so far is one, which generates a great sense of hope and determination.
Born in Rockfleet just outside Newport he grew up surrounded by seven brothers, eight sisters and parents Mick and Maud. He enjoyed life, going to school, doing the chores and playing games the way kids do. He loved sport and was soon playing football with the local teams.
"I enjoyed playing football and in 1964 we had a great minor team in the area. We were called Mulranny but we drew lads from the whole region stretching from Ballycroy to Kilmeena. I was lucky enough to captain the team and on one special evening in McHale Park we beat Ballina Stephenites in the County league final. That was a famous team and we had some fine footballers like Joe McAndrew, Stephen Conway and Christy Loftus. I scored 1-9 that evening and it is a game I will never forget. Later that year we won the West championship but lost the county semi-final to a Jimmy Duggan-inspired Claremorris. I loved the games and the excitement and will never forget those special days."
He spent happy times learning the painting trade from Sean Kelly and in 1964 when Burrishoole GAA team went to London on tour Tom was in the party. He saw the abundance of work available in the English capital and was soon back there looking for a start.
"I worked all over England from Birmingham to Ipswich and Bristol to Norwich. I followed the work, the money was good and the craic was mighty. I played some football around London with St. Jarlath’s and St. Pat’s in Luton and enjoyed life. There were lots of lads from home over there and when there was a big match on in Ireland like an All-Ireland Final we all gathered to listen to it on the radio. We would tie the radio and the aerial to a lamppost and gather around it listening in silence. The locals didn’t know what was happening and often called the police who would come along and often listen to the game with us."
Tom enjoyed life in England but in the autumn of 1980 he returned to Dublin where the building boom was just about to begin. He wasn’t long there when fate intervened and changed his life forever. On March 30th 1981 the car he was driving hit a wall just outside Drogheda with devastating consequences.
"I wasn’t found for five hours after the accident and when they got to the car I was trapped under a pile of stone from the wall. I could only tell them my name and was then taken to a hospital in Drogheda before being flown to the Central Remedial Clinic in DunLaoighre.
"That day back in Mayo my parents were going to Mass when they heard on the radio that a man named Tom Chambers had been in a serious accident near Drogheda but they never thought it was me as I was living in Dublin at the time."
Soon they learned that it was indeed their son who had been injured in the accident and life would never be the same again. In DunLaoighre Tom was asking the nurses could he soon go home as there was a lot of concrete being delivered that week but it wasn’t long before he realised that he was in serious trouble.
"I looked around me and saw some frightening sights. Fine people lying there in beds unable to move a muscle and I knew that I had some major problems but I also realised that I was very lucky. There was an Irish rugby international there called Gus Barrett who had passed his final exams in dentistry only days before his life was turned upside down and I thanked God that I was as good as I was."
Months of physio and hard work were put in before Tom saw Rockfleet again but in December he arrived home full of trepidation about what the future held.
"I was very nervous wondering what would happen if something went wrong but there was no need to worry, everything worked out fine."
Fundraising locally and in London and Cleveland meant that Tom could buy a car and soon he was on the open road. He valued his independence and later moved to a house of his own in nearby Newport. He settled into life in West Mayo and could often be found driving a carload of friends to dances all over the county. The man from Rockfleet wasn’t going to sit around complaining about the hand he had been dealt.
Then in October 1985 the local sergeant Tom Rochford, set him a challenge. He believed that Chambers was capable of competing in the Dublin City Marathon and told him he would support him all the way. Tom took up the challenge and the rest is history.
He trained four or five hours every day. Rochford, Martin O’ Malley, Kevin McManamon and a local committee secured funding for a new lighter wheelchair and after endless preparation and a few local half-marathons Tom found himself on the starting line for the 1986 marathon.
"Bertie Ahern was the Lord Mayor of Dublin at the time sent us on our way. I was going well at first until one of the front wheels came loose on the chair but I pulled into a garage and borrowed a spanner, which kept me going until I got to the service vehicle."
Soon he was back on course again and as he raced down the Malahide Road a special Mayo lady shouted out her support.
"Rosaline Gallagher was they’re urging me on and I got great courage from that. She had done so much on the sporting scene worldwide as a disabled athlete and had Olympic medals, I was honoured that she turned out to wish me luck as she herself was also from Mayo."
The Newport man raced onwards and as he went up Westland Row a spectator shouted that there was only a mile to go.
"For the first time in the race I thought about the distance I had travelled and I put in a special effort to get to the finish because there were a few people in Newport and surrounding areas who had doubted my ability to finish."
Soon Tom had crossed the line and one of his life’s’ ambitions had been achieved. He would complete another two marathons and numerous other distances in the following years as his fame spread far and wide. The man from Rockfleet became one of Newport’s best-known residents.
These days Tom doesn’t race anymore but he still keeps in touch with the people he met on the athletics trail. He waits anxiously for the opportunity to help another Mayo wheelchair athlete enter the racing game. His head is filled with tips for aspiring racers and he knows someday that another Mayo racer will scorch through the Dublin streets.
His days are filled with the IT lessons he gives in Mayo Tech and the designs he makes for wheelchair accessible buildings. He is enjoying life in Newport and is thankful for the hand life has dealt him.
"If I hadn’t run into that wall I might be dead now, who knows? I have a great life filled with wonderful people and remember it’s only my legs that are paralysed, not my brain."
The man who has packed more into his life than many others has a lot of living to do. He is already planning his next project and the ones after that. Tom Chambers is a unique man, one of Newport’s finest.
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