Mayo Disabled People's Organisation seeks closer collaboration with council in building inclusive society

MAYO Disabled People's Organisation (DPO) wants to work in partnership with Mayo County Council so that members' lived experience can result in change and accessible communities for all.

Twenty-two per cent of the population live with a disability - that's over 30,000 people in Mayo alone, councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District heard in a presentation by Mayo DPO secretary Donna Gavin.

As well as building an inclusive society, early collaboration and input from the DPO on public projects can save money, identifying issues that will cost money to rectify later down the line.

Ms. Gavin cited her own personal experience of a home that was meant to be universal plus design - wheelchair liveable, which includes a bedroom and showering facilities downstairs. It wasn't.

The matter was raised while the contractor was still on site and she is now waiting for the council to get funding to remedy it, running into many thousands to adapt what is a brand new council house.

The DPO exists because disabled people in Mayo deserve equal representation, dignity and access to all aspects of community life, Ms. Gavin explained. They work to bridge the gaps between need and provision to ensure no one is left behind.

Addressing critical gaps in services, support and accessibility across the county, they identify challenges and work collaboratively to develop practical solutions.

However, despite their significant numbers, disabled people remain underrepresented in local decision-making and policy development.

Accessible communities benefits all citizens, she explained, and the DPO can be a consultative partner for the local authority, identifying barriers and bringing a different aspect into discussions.

The organisation wants to see investment in facilities, updated accessibility policies and representation on policy committees, increased community consulatation and a commitment to measurable improvements.

Ms. Gavin received the full support of the elected members who highlighted the need to lobby national government for investment in infrastructure.

Mayo DPO is not funded by government, which Councillor Richard Finn branded a disgrace, with the country's 14,000 NGOs receiving €11 billion a year, and there was a call for a review.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme