Disability Action has been notified by the Planning Service that they will cease funding our Access Service at the end of September. Discussions with the Minister Poots have seen the reinstatement of 25% of our original funding but what was a comprehensive service has now been decimated.
Disability Action will no longer be in a position to examine planning applications to ensure that in future public buildings continue to be accessible, nor to provide advice and to advocate for disabled people experiencing discrimination and exclusion.
The problems disabled people experience with access was demonstrated in a survey of 200 disabled people in June 2010 which found that 81.25% had experienced a problem with access, 43.75% said they experienced problems “all the time”.
The Planning Service has also decided to stop the £25,000 in grant aid which funded the voluntary and community sector to improve access to their facilities and services and thereby encourage disabled people to participate in their own communities.
(Source Disabiltiy Action Belfast)
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