*A total of 78 disabled parking spaces are currently documented as being located in the Ennis MD.
78 disabled parking spaces are currently located across the Ennis Municipal District, with the vast majority of this figure located in the county town.
Included in the figure of 78 is the yet to be constructed four disabled car parking spaces in Lower Market St and the Friary car park areas, a section 38 had been approved for the works earlier this year.
Plans for further spaces in the town centre were sought by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) before a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. He said several constituents were “expressing concern at the shortage in availability” and added, “it is vital that Ennis is inclusive to all”.
Disabled car parking spaces are available “at key priority locations in the town centre area including Abbey Street car park, Templegate car park, Bank Place, Lower Market Street amongst others,” acting senior executive engineer Ian Chaplin stated. “The public realm works along with the upgrading of the existing disabled car parking spaces will enhance the universal accessibility of the town centre,” he added.
Up to 22 disabled spaces have been upgraded by the Ennis MD “in recent years” in compliance with the National Disability Authority’s guidance document on Universal Design of the Built and External Environment,” Chaplin flagged. “Ennis MD will continue to upgrade the existing spaces and provide new spaces where possible and where funding allows”.
Murphy revealed that former Clare TD and Mayor of Clare, James Breen asked him to raise the issue with a shortage of spaces within reach of O’Connell Square. “I’m fairly happy with the response. We are an accessible town as far as we can, we endeavour to make the streets more accessible for all”.
Referencing the upgrades, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) pointed to recent criticism by Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) on the Council’s Active Travel spend. “She‘s calling on people to call on councillors to do their job, I can assure Senator Garvey that we’re trying to utilise all the funding we get from Central Government. Her comments gave the impression that there is a pool of money lying there, it is giving the wrong impression”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) supported the views of Cllr Flynn, “it does seem incredibly unfair to make such an assertion”. “They were very unfair and unfounded comments, I thought the comments were very unfair,” Cllr Mary Howard (FG)
Senior executive officer, Leonore O’Neill assured councillors that the Active Travel projects fell under a multi-annual funding programme with some to be delivered this year and others in 2023. An estimated €4.5m will be drawn down on Active Travel projects in 2022, she stated.
