Councillors defend €2.15m expenditure on chamber revamp

Members of Mayo County Council have defended the proposed €2.15 million makeover of the chamber in Aras an Chontae in Castlebar and have called on the public not to sign a public petition against the controversial project.

The councillors made their comments at the May monthly meeting of the forum after it was revealed that the project will significantly improve access to the chamber for people with disabilities. 

Cllr Patsy O'Brien welcomed the news and said the public petition should not be supported. 

“This is a very important announcement for us today, that money is being spent on the Aras, not foolishly, but to recognise all people. I ask people not to sign a petition going around to oppose this development. This is money that will be well spent and to cater for the disabled and we should not be found wanting in this regard.” 

Cllr Richard Finn added: “We are going forward with this project for the progress of our county and council and the disabled and disadvantaged communities in Mayo.”

Cllr Damien Ryan said the work was "well warranted" and would make the council's headquarters more accessible.

"Aras an Chontae is the number one focal point for civic receptions and all that goes on for our constituents and I ask that the master plan be brought forward and that we approve it as soon as possible.” 

Cllr John Caulfield agreed, stating: “This chamber doesn’t belong to councillors, it belongs to everybody in the county and should be accessible by all. It’s the front door of the county and currently it is embarrassing in that those with disabilities cannot access it and also that it has had no upgrade since 1989. The acoustics are a disaster, and it is not possible for a speaker with disability to address the chamber in its current form.”

Cllr Marie Therese Duffy said a group of people with disabilities has asked to be part of the design process for the new chamber.

Meanwhile, Cllr Gerry Murray called on the council to identify a funding source for the appointment of a dedicated, full-time and fully resourced access and inclusion officer. Cllr Murray said a similar motion has already been passed in a number of local authorities and is designed “to meet our statutory obligations under the Disability Act and aligning with EU regulations”. He called for the council “to prepare a report on what it has done in the last five years on this".

Cllr Neil Cruise requested feedback on public playgrounds in Mayo “to see how disability proofed they are as a lot of these are in situ for quite some time and may need upgrading of apparatus so that all children can play together".

Director of Services Siofra Kilcullen said that the council is in the process of fulfilling its requirement under the Disability Act to appoint a disability officer and pointed out that people with disabilities amount to over 6% of staff.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.