'We have to live our lives as well' - Kilkenny man speaks out on important issue

Members of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) locally have pleaded for greater government supports and public understanding in a bid to live their lives to their full potential in Kilkenny city and county. 

Nationally, a survey from the IWA found that 77% of respondents said they felt unsafe using public transport infrastructure such as bus stops, crossing cycling lanes or using shared paths with cyclists with similar sentiments being widely expressed Noreside, as unsuitable facilities and parking concerns prove to be an ongoing frustration for many local people.

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Kilkenny service user John Grace along with staff member and loyal companion, Declan are adamant facilities for those with additional needs are not fit for purpose in Kilkenny and must change.

"We're talking about access issues the whole time but we have to live our lives as well," John told the Kilkenny People. 

"We have to fight our ground, we can’t just sit there and say nothing," he added.

The issue has proven to be far from just a logistical one and has acted as a life-limiting trap, with access to basic Kilkenny amenities taken for granted by much of the public, out of reach for John due to lack of suitable infrastructure.

"I suppose people take it for granted your access to the town and different places where there's access," Declan remarked.

"The first time John was ever down at the actual fountain at Kilkenny Castle was last summer, because there's no access and only for the fact that we had two staff that were able to get him down the slope and the gravel paths," Declan explained.

Meanwhile, John noted examples of using bathroom facilities where the available space didn't allow room for the door to be closed, the most notable location left wanting, Dáil Eireann, where he was present for a tour of Leinster House.

"Access into buildings is a massive issue. Just because you can get into a building doesn't mean the whole building is accessible."

The lack of action from TDs in the Carlow-Kilkenny area has also proven to have been an area of disappointment for the pair.

"Coming up to the local elections, we had a debate up in the centre in Claddagh Court and we invited every councillor that was going to be running for council, and I think eight turned up," Declan recalled.

"I know they had a good debate, but there’s a lot said, but not a lot done," he claimed.

Parking, particularly in Kilkenny City centre has also proven to be a difficult task for John and the IWA team in recent years, meaning many simplistic visits to local shops simply can’t happen.

"We're used to it and the trouble with parking in town as a whole is that there’s not enough spaces and when you’re trying to park you could have people parking behind you which blocks the ramps from being used then," according to John. 

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