Wheelchair users excluded from accessing Mayo beach due to insurance crux
Irish Wheelchair Association members are being excluded from accessing Mayo’s Blue Flag Elly Bay beach because Mayo County Council says it can’t insure wheelchair accessible beach mats.
The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Erris Access Group was recently provided with wheelchair accessible beach mats, funded and purchased by SICAP and Healthy Communities Initiative at the cost of €4,925.
These mats enable wheelchair users to access the beach area using their own wheelchairs and enjoy the experience of a day at the beach.
The Irish Wheelchair Association local access group approached Mayo County Council for permission to use these mats on Elly Bay Blue Flag beach, and they were happy to agree as these mats also help the beach meet the criteria for awarding of the Blue Flag as set out in criterion 33 – access for wheelchair users.
The group then requested Mayo County Council to indemnify the mats under their public liability insurance, but they have come back to say their insurance company will not insure them as they are not the property of the council.
But even if they did own the mats and it was possible to add them to their policy there would still be an issue, it seems, as the council said they would only have restricted perils such as fire, lightening and explosion cover as the mats would be deemed to be property in the open.
Rosaleen Lally, IWA’s National Access Manager, said: “These mats are now lying-in storage and cannot be used, while our members continue to be excluded from these public amenities.
“IWA have contacted local authorities in many other counties who have these mats on their beaches and have no issue with insuring them, one such example is Wexford County Council.
"There seems to be no consistency around the country when it comes to access to beach and equality for people with disabilities.
“Even if Mayo County Council did own the mats there would still be an issue so it’s obviously ‘red tape’, and highlights the ongoing discrimination faced by people with disabilities right across the country.”
Teresa Gaughan was born and raised on the beautiful wild Erris peninsula. Teresa was born with spina bifida but never let her disability deter her from doing what she loves.
She lives independently and works for the Irish Wheelchair Association in Belmullet.
Teresa joined the IWA Local Access Group last year and began lobbying for better access in the local area, including local beaches.
“There is something magical and therapeutical about being able to go to the beach”, she said.
“Belmullet has two beautiful blue flag beaches but unfortunately nether of them are wheelchair accessible.”
The Access group lobbied hard to get the county council to put certain equipment in place which would allow access onto the beach in the persons own chair.
Teresa said while the beach buggy is great for younger members, she cannot use it as she requires a hoist to get in and out of the buggies and this is not available at ether beach.
“The beach mats are ideal, they allow me to get on to the beach with my own chair and enjoy beach time with my family and friends mats on the beach, but now they cannot he used , so once again people with disabilities are excluded,”
“I think it’s a crying shame and in complete violation of our rights under UNCRPD, and frankly we will fight this to the bitter end."
Rosaleen Lally said that the question now has to be asked: should these beaches be awarded a Blue Flag if they are not wheelchair accessible?
She further points out that Ireland ratified the UNCRPD in 2018, and in so doing state bodies have a requirement to stive to meet all articles of the of the convention including Article 9 - Accessibility.
PHOTO: IWA’s National Access Member Rosaleen Lally (back left) and IWA member Teresa Gaughan (front right) pictured with other members of the IWA Erris Access Group who have successfully lobbied for beach mats and chairs in Elly Bay, Belmullet. Now the beach mats are lying in storage over an insurance issue with Mayo County Council.