Kildare County Council to pilot mobile sensory unit and mobile accessible toilets at council events
Cllr Peter Melrose (SD) raised the issue in a motion at a June municipal district meeting
People with disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities are set to have new facilities at large council events in the future, thanks to a new pilot backed by Kildare County Council.
Following on from a call by Social Democrats councillor Peter Melrose, the local authority has agreed to fund the provision of a mobile sensory unit and a mobile accessible toilet for council-run or affiliated events with more than 3,000 attendees.
It is expected that the initiative will launch as a pilot project later this year.
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“This move aims to improve the experience and accessibility of events for people with sensory sensitivities and/or disabilities,” Cllr Melrose said.
“And data collected from the pilot will be used when considering future provision to events of 500 or more attendees.
“Everyone deserves to enjoy our community events in comfort and dignity. A mobile sensory unit offers a quiet, safe space for those overwhelmed by crowds and noise. Just a few minutes in one of these rooms can help someone to reset, regulate, and then continue to enjoy the event.”
Cllr Melrose said that while changing places are a priority for Kildare County Council, we are still quite a bit away from being able to offer full accessibility at council events.
Providing an on-site mobile accessible toilet ensures basic facilities for people with mobility needs, he pointed out.
He said that “crucially”, this includes a hoist for independent use, an issue which he said is raised regularly by accessibility groups across the county.
The Social Democrats councillor said that having witnessed first-hand families using and embracing similar facilities at the Kildare Inclusivity Festival in May, he felt compelled to champion the cause.
“I’m grateful for the support received from fellow members including Cllrs Peggy O’Dwyer and Donna Phelan, both champions of inclusivity and accessibility in their own rights.
“I will continue to work closely with the council on this initiative and hope to see it
grow and reach smaller events in our towns and villages.
“People and families often choose to attend an event based on what facilities are
available to them, and I want to ensure that everyone is afforded an equal chance to
enjoy what Kildare has to offer.