IWA's Information Resource Centre receives queries on a range of disability issues - here are just a few of the most frequently asked questions.
Where can I find online aids and appliances?
Where can I find more information about the accessibility of venues in Dublin?
Where do I go to find out more about toll road exmptions for disabled drivers?
I want to go on holiday in Ireland - where can I find out about accessible accommodation?
Where can I find out about the Disabled Person's Parking Card and vehicle adaptations?
I'd like to make sure that my business premises are accessible to wheelchair users - what information is available on this subject?
Where can I find tax information and support service for a person with a disability?
Where can I get Travel Insurance?
I want to go on holiday abroad - where can I find information about accessible destinations and holidays?
Where can I rent a hoist?
Where can I find out about my social welfare entitlements as a person with a disability?
Where can I get the universal key for accessible toilets?
Where can I rent a wheelchair?
Where can I rent a ramp?
The contacts below are listed for information purposes only. This should not be construed as a recommendation. www.homecraft-rolyan.com www.rolli.ie www.comfigear.ie www.disabilityneeds.com www.opm.ie www.aemobility.com
DisabledGo provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the UK and Ireland.
www.disabledgo.info
SmallerWorld is a site dedicated to the review of wheelchair accessible services and locations.
www.smallerworld.ie
Specially adapted vehicles driven by disabled persons are exempt from tolls on each toll road in the state. Toll road operators currently issue special passes to facilitate such exempt passage. Passes issued by any one operator will be accepted by all other toll road operators. For further information and to apply for a pass please contact your nearest toll road operator. A list of toll road operators and their contact numbers are listed below: West-Link Toll Bridge Limited, Toll Plaza, Castleknock, Dublin 15. Tel : 01 820 2000 Fax : 01 821 1532 East-Link Toll Bridge Limited, Toll Plaza, York Road, Dublin 4. Tel : 01 668 2888 Fax : 01 688 2562 North-Link M1 Toll Operations Ltd, Balgeen, Co. Meath Tel : 041 982 9820 Fax : 041 982 9826 DirectRoute (Fermoy) Limited, Golf Club Road, Corrin, Fermoy, Co. Cork Tel: +353 25 40199 info@directroute.ie
www.directroute.ie
Dublin Port Tunnel Transroute Tunnel Operations Limited Dublin Port Tunnel East Wall Road Dublin 3 Tel: 1890 252435 www.dublinporttunnel.ie Eurolink Motorway Operation Ltd. Toll Plaza Cappagh Nicholastown, Co. Kildare Tel: +353 46 9540266
customerservice@eurolink-m4.ie
www.eirtag.ie
In relation to M50 Barrier Free Tolling specially adapted vehicles driven by disabled persons will continue to be exempt under the new barrier free tolling arrangements planned for the M50. The Toll Operator will be able to automatically identify specially adapted vehicles from information held on the National Vehicle and Driver File, and exempt passage will be applied accordingly.
Fáilte Ireland has developed a new scheme for the validation and provision of information on registered and approved accommodation that provides for those with disabilities, www.discoverireland.ie/where-to-stay/VAS.aspx. There are four categories of accessibility explained on the website as well as contact details for all listed accessible accommodation.
The IWA Information centre also has a list of holiday accommodation that has been recommended by members. Tel: 01 8186455 email: info@iwa.ie
Our Motoring Advice, Assessment and Tuition (MAATs) service provides a range of motoring services for drivers and passengers with disabilities, including advice on vehicle adaptations. The centre also processes applications for the Disabled Person's Parking Card. For more information, contact IWA's National Mobility Centre, Ballinagappa Road, Clane, Co. Kildare. Tel: 045 893094 or email: maats@iwa.ie
There are several publications that may prove useful if you are considering adapting a building to meet the needs of people with disabilities. These include: IWA Access Guidelines
IWA are aware what a barrier the built enviroment poses to those with a disability, the development of these IWA Access Guidelines was underpinned by an extensive consultation process with the IWA membership and with external organisations both from within and from outside the disability sector. For a cd version to be posted out ring 01 8186 455 or download here.
Building Regulations: Part M and Technical Guidance Document - these regulations outline the minimum requirements to make premises accessible. Bear in mind that your customers with disabilities may need more than this! Copies are available from the Government Publications Office. Tel: 01 647 6000. Building for Everyone: Inclusion, Access and Use - describes how to design, make and manage buildings and the external environment for the inclusion, access and use of everybody. Available from the National Disability Authority, 25 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Tel: 01 608 0400 or www.nda.ie
The Irish Revenue Commissioner website www.revenue.ie has tax information relating to people with a disability. The Revenue Commissioners have appointed Mr Padraig Crowe and Ms Jacinta Hunston as Access Officers. They are responsible for providing and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to people with disabilities accessing services provided by the offices, and generally to act as a point of contact for people with disabilities wishing to access each service. Padraig Crowe Planning Division, Customer Service Policy Unit, 1st Floor, Bishop's Square, Redmond's Hill, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 424 42 35 E-mail: accessofficer@revenue.ie Fax: (01) 424 43 96 Jacinta Hunston 2nd Floor, Apollo House, Tara Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 633 08 83 E-mail: jacintah@revenue.ie Fax: (01) 633 08 86
Members sometimes report difficulty in obtaining travel insurance. We cannot recommend any company but the following seem to be particularly disability-friendly. Royal and Sun Alliance on 016771851 or www.royalsunalliance.ie Coyle Hamilton Willis Ltd. on 016616211 or www.coylehamiltonwillis.ie
We have recently started to compile access information on holidays abroad, to take a look click here or telephone Kiara Lynch on 018186414
Evolution Healthcare, Co Tyrone they cover the North/North-West of Ireland. Contact Evolution Health Care, Dungannon Enterprise Centre, 2 Coalisland Road, Dungannon, BT71 6JT, Co Tyrone on 028 87 727 855. JS Dobbs, Dublin deliver in the eastern region of Ireland. Contact J.S. Dobbs & Co. Ltd., Healthcare Products Distributors, Unit 84-85, Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Dublin 13 on 01 8391071, or www.jsdobbs.ie.
The citizens information board have a publication called ‘Entitlements for people with Disabilities’ which can be downloaded from www.citizensinformationboard.ie
For a cost of less than €24.50 a universal key for accessible toilets can be purchased from J Williams & Son, Dublin, contactable 01 475 6307
In our mobility section we have a list of names and contact numbers for wheelchair modifications / repairs/ hire, to view click here
In our mobility section we have a list of names and contact numbers for companies offering rental / purchase of ramps, to view click here.