DkIT under fire for delay to disabled facilities

DKIT has come under fire for delays in the provision of fully accessible changing facilities on campus.

The lack of facilities for students with disabilities was highlighted last week by first year student Conor Byrne, who is a wheelchair user. Conor, from Clogherhead, who has cerebal palsy and is a wheelchair user, highlighted how he was told facilities would be put in place for him when he began his studies at DkIT last September.

But DkIT have now confirmed to the Argus that the facilities will not be available until this September, 2020.

A spokesman said: ‘DkIT commenced a process for constructing a purpose-built Fully Accessible Changing Facility on campus to meet the growing needs of its diverse cohort of students last summer.

The necessary funding, location and architectural services have been secured to deliver this project and suitable plans have been drawn up. The works are currently under public tender and the tender return is scheduled for 1st of April 2020. It is envisaged that the facility will be available to students in the new academic year (1stSeptember 2020).’

He added: ‘During the interim period, the Institute has worked in partnership O’Fiaich Institute of Further Education to accommodate student needs while the facility is being constructed on campus.

DkIT recognises that these are temporary arrangements and regrets any inconvenience and undue stress caused to our students. We continue to offer supports via our Disability Office. Management within the Institute are committed to ensuring that the on-campus accessible changing facility will be available to DkIT both students and visitors in September 2020.’