Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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375. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, under section 26 of the Disability Act 2005, each public body is required to have an access officer; the number and which local authorities have employed local access officers to improve public services for people with disabilities; if she will encourage local authorities to fill these roles immediately; the way local authorities fund these roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36186/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible and each local authority is an individual employer. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions.

The Disability Act 2005 places a statutory obligation on public bodies, including local authorities, to support access to services and facilities, for people with disabilities. Under Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005 each public body is required to have at least one officer authorised to act in the capacity of an access officer. That officer is responsible, where appropriate, for providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by that body.

Further information regarding access officers would be available from each local authority.