Disability Action in Northern Ireland has been informed that the funding for their Access Service is to be substantially cut, threatening their continued scrutiny of planning applications.  For further details, please see the campaign message below:

'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 per cent 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 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 per cent had experienced a problem with access, while 44 per cent 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.
 

Disability Action is actively campaigning for the retention of the service. As part of this campaign we are asking youto support us by following the link below and completing the questionnaire:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/accesssurvey
 

You can also show your support by writing to the Minster for the Environment Edwin Poots to express your concerns. A template for such a letter letter can be sent to you, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text27435 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to recieve a copy.'
 

If you require any further information please contact Disability Action via the details below:

Sinead Owens
Campaigns Officer                                                  
Disability Action                          
Portside Business Park              
189 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
Telephone: 028 9029 7880
Textphone: 028 9029 7882
Fax: 028 9029 7881
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:   www.disabilityaction.org