Appeal to Mayo councillors to support disability access campaign

THIS April the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is calling on councillors and local authorities to focus on access barriers in the local community as part of its annual access campaign, ‘Access - It’s no Joke’, which launches on April 1 - April Fool's Day.

IWA’s research shows that 81% of local authorities, including Mayo, do not have a dedicated access officer to improve access to public services. The organisation is appealing to county councils across Ireland to appoint a dedicated access and inclusion officer to improve access for people with disabilities.

‘Access - It’s No Joke’ is a humorous video campaign with a serious side, highlighting access barriers that people with disabilities face in our local communities. The campaign began as a series of humorous online videos with high-profile comedians Anna Clifford, David McSavage and Mayo man Owen Colgan highlighting the barriers people with disabilities face to access everyday amenities like public pathways, public transport, parks, parking bays and coffee shops.

The campaign grew online, and people with disabilities joined the campaign, sharing their own videos of the everyday accessibility barriers they encounter.

Connie Richardson is a wheelchair user who features in the video campaign to highlight issues such as inaccessible public transport. "By the time I get to the bus stop, I've already overcome so many obstacles,” according to Connie. “If the one wheelchair spot is taken, or the ramp is broken, I may miss my appointments, but I try to remain positive or leave the house really early to allow for these situations.”

Rosaleen Lally, national access programme manager with Irish Wheelchair Association, said: “Access - It's No Joke has been so popular with people reaching out to us online and sharing videos of their daily frustrations and anger about trying to access everyday local amenities. So, this year, we are contacting county councils to find a solution to some of these access barriers.”

According to Irish Wheelchair Association research, 25 local authorities in Ireland (81% of councils) do not have a dedicated, resourced access officer to work full-time on access to public services in the county. IWA’s research across Ireland’s 31 local authorities found:

The IAW is appealing to 25 county councils, including Mayo, to appoint a dedicated access and inclusion officer to enhance access for people with disabilities. The organisation is asking local councillors to pass a motion requesting funding for a full-time position in every local authority, with a dedicated budget which is a commitment in the Disability Act and listed as a priority in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People for 2026.

Under Section 6 of the Disability Act 2005, all public bodies, including local authorities must appoint an Access Officer to support people with disabilities to access public services. According to the Irish Wheelchair Association, this is happening ‘in theory’ but not in reality.

“People with disabilities need better access to public transport, healthcare, housing and amenities like parks and pools,” continued Ms. Lally. “Local authorities have been mandated by the 2025 Disability Act to take action. But the bare minimum isn’t good enough.

“We know that many local authorities have ‘access officers’ but often these are simply additional job titles that are given to existing busy staff. We know that our local authorities have dedicated hardworking staff, but they cannot break down access barriers without time, budget or experience,” she added.

This month Irish Wheelchair Association contacted local councillors in 25 local authorities asking them to support its campaign by passing resolution for access and inclusion officers at their next available council meeting. The resolution is from county council officials to Minister Browne requesting provisions to enable all local authorities to appoint a dedicated, resourced access and inclusion officer.

“Hardworking, well-intentioned people cannot work in a broken system. Local authorities need access and inclusion officers with a budget and a mandate to improve access across public services, from public transport to housing to recreational amenities for people with disabilities and mobility issues. Ticking a box is not enough for county councils, and our communities deserve better.

“We are appealing to local councillors to look at our motion and pass the access and inclusion officer resolution at the next available council meeting. People with disabilities don’t just need support, they need solutions and action,” said Ms. Lally.

For more on the campaign, see iwa.ie/accessnojoke.