New Ross Town Council Offices
New Ross Town Council recently completed the accessibility works, which commenced in November 2009, to make the entire ground floor of The Tholsel accessible. The works icluded the following;
- Ramped Access
- Automatic Doors
- Accessible Reception Area
- Loop Hearing System
- Toilet for People with Dissabilities
The official opening of the new Reception Area / Ground Floor was on Monday 22nd November 2010 and was attended by Minister of State Sean Connick TD, Wexford County Council Access Officer Caroline Horan, NRTC Access Representative Stephen Forbes,Web Content Coordinator Dean Waters and RAPID Coordinator Anthony Bailey,
Overview of New Ross Town Accessability
The Disability Act 2005, places significant responsibilities on Public Bodies to make their buildings and services accessable to people with disabilities.
The term "disability" covers a wide range of circumstances including, physical disability, mobility issues, sensory, hearing and visual impairments, cognitive difficulties including specific learning difficulties and also mental health issues.
New Ross Town Council is committed to ensuring that New Ross Town is accessable to all and to developing services that encourage maximum participation in society. Having reviewed our policies, procedures and practices in 2008, New Ross Town Council put in place systems which support all necessary steps for improvement in the delivery of more accessable services and information for people with a disabilities.
Wexford County Council Policy and Procedures
Wexford Local Authorities Accessability Audit
Wexford County Council engaged a team of consultants to carry out Accessability Audits of all public buildings, parks, amenities and open spaces, towns and villages, heritage sites, public libraries and harbours within the local authorites of County Wexford, to identify what remedial actions would be necessary to ensure buildings and facilities were accessable.
The Audits are now available for viewing through our Library Services in County Wexford, including the New Ross Town Library in Barrack Lane.
Implementation Plan
The current Implementation Plan which will run until 2015, and will be reviewed annually, was adopted by the Council in July 2008. The Plan sets out a prioritised works programme based on the actions and reccomendations of the Audits.
Access to Information
A service review was completed in 2008, the outcome of which sets out arrangements for providing information to the public to ensure that, as far as practicable, communications are provided in a form that is accessable to people with disabilities.
Resources have been made available to provide information in different formats on request, ie. Braille, Audio, Large Print & Sign Language Interpretation.
Complaints Procedure
Procedures required in relation to complaints under sections 25 to 29 of the Disability Act, 2005, are in place. A complaints procedure and a review by the Ombudsman will be available in any case where the access required is not provided for.
The procedure for complaints and complaint forms are available in the Customer Services Action Plan, copies of which can be obtained at all the main reception areas.
Customer Service Action Plan
The County Secretary has been authorised to perform the functions conferred on an Inquiry Officer by section 39 of the Disability Act, 2005.
Contact Details;
Niall McDonnell, County Secretary, Wexford County Council, Carrick Lawn, Wexford.
Telephone - (053) 9196260 or e-mail niall.mcdonnell@wexford.ie
Consultation Process
To link with the countrywide consultation process, New Ross Town Council has the following in place.
- Town Access Focus Group
- An Access Representative within New Ross Town Council who acts as an information resource to customers and colleagues alike in relation to accessability issues.
- A Content Coordinator within New Ross Town Council to ensure data input on the web takes account of accessability issues.
- An Access Officer with the role to coordinate, monitor and review policies and procedures in relation to accessability, the Dissability Act, 2005 and the Sectoral Plan.
- An Inquiry Officer.
The structures in place, ensure that the awareness and commitment to accessability and disability, remains firmly embedded in the organisation and its services.
Further Information
If you require further information, or simply have an observation or suggestion with regard to accessability , please contact either the New Ross Town Council Access Representative or the Wexford County Council Access Officer.
Contact Details;
Stephen Forbes - Access Representative, New Ross Town Council, The Tholsel, New Ross, Co Wexford.
Telephone (051) 421 284 or e-mail stephen.forbes@newrosstc.ie
Dean Waters - Web Content Coordinator, New Ross Town Council, The Tholsel, New Ross, Co Wexford.
Telephone (051) 421 284 or e-mail dean.waters@newrosstc.ie
Caroline Horan - Access Officer, Wexford County Council, Carrick Lawn, Wexford.
Telephone (053) 9196418 or e-mail caroline.horan@wexfordcoco.ie