Calls for action on beach wheelchair

A LOCAL Deputy has criticised Louth County Council for their lack of action on the provision of an all terrain beach wheelchair at blue flag beaches.

Louth TD Imelda Munster said she was disappointed at the lack of ‘commitment, action of even enthusiasm’ from the executive of the council in providing the wheelchair to facilitate people with disabilities to access the beach similar to their peers in society.

‘It is hard to believe firstly that my motino to provide a beach wheelchair was passed unanimously by the council last December but it now appears they did absolutely nothing in relation to seeking a partner to host a beach wheelchair since last December.

‘Louth County Council had an opportunity following the passing of this motion to provide access to the beaches and water in this county for people with disabilities.’

At the time, the Chief Executive said the main difficulty for the council was having someone available at the beach to deal with checking the chair in and out.

Deputy Munster said that when she questioned the Director of Services as to what groups/entities the council had contacted in relation to hosting and checking the beech wheelchair in and out, she was shocked to discover they had not contacted any of them.

‘ The response was both shameful and shocking. “we have made no contact with any organisation in relation to this matter, simply because we were not aware of any appropriate group in the areas concerned”,’ she said.

Deputy Munster said she is now calling on Louth County Council to follow through with an advertisement as an exercise of consultation for expressions of interest from community groups, development groups, lifeboat organisations, disability groups etc on the east coast in Louth who may be able, willing and indeed enthusiastic to host this facility and checking the wheelchair in and out.