Sinn Féin councillor Thérèse Ruane has welcomed the opportunity for disability groups to address members of Castlebar Town Council prior to the November monthly meeting. A special meeting took place last night Thursday November 12 to facilitate representatives of People with Disabilities in Ireland and the Castlebar Community Drop-in Group to address the council. The venue for the meeting was changed to Áras an Chontae as the council chamber in Marsh House is not accessible to people with disabilities.
“I've met with disability groups and with the Castlebar Community Drop-in Group on a number of occasions,” Cllr Ruane said. “On their request, I proposed that they be invited to address the members of Castlebar Town Council at the November monthly meeting. To facilitate this, I also proposed that this meeting take place in an accessible venue. It's very welcome that the next meeting will take place in Mayo County Council to ensure that people with disabilities will finally be given the opportunity to address the council and highlight any issues of concern in Castlebar town. In Ireland, one in 10 people are living with a disability; people have to continuously battle to uphold their basic human rights and dignity. Our councils, as public democratic bodies, should be accountable, transparent, and accessible to all. As a town council, we have an obligation to the public to uphold these principles. The fact that people with reduced mobility are excluded from Castlebar Town Council meetings is not acceptable. I am calling for all future meetings of Castlebar Town Council to take place in an accessible venue.”
