Although unusable by 'most' in wheelchairs, new Laois Library lift was 'compliant' says Minister

A lift that’s unsuitable for most modern wheelchairs in the new €7.6 million Portlaoise Library was "compliant with standards" a Minister has said. 

The county library in the heart of Portlaoise was opened by Minister for Social Protection and Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys in July last year. 

Independent Laois Offaly TD Carol Nolan raised the issue of the lift with the Minister in a Parliamentary Question last week. 

She asked the Minister “if she is aware that the lift in the recently opened library in Portlaoise is not suitable for most wheelchair users; if she is also aware that the chief executive officer of Laois County Council has effectively stated that no further consideration is to be given to this serious oversight; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”

Minister Humphreys explained that the council had to submit “an application for approval in principle to my Department as part of my Department's Four Stage Capital Management process, where we consider the physical location, size, and access to the proposed library,” she explained. 

“Laois County Council engaged fully with my Department's Four Stage Capital Management process as they advanced the Portlaoise Library application. In October 2019, my Department issued its final Stage 4 approval for the project,” said Minister Humphreys. 

“I have been advised by Laois County Council that a professionally certified compliance report was provided to the building control authority at building completion stage. A Disability Access Certificate was subsequently granted by the building control authority on 11th July 2023. This certificate confirms the library and the passenger lift is compliant with the standards set out in the “Building Control Regulations 2010, Technical Guidance Document M - Access and Use”, which were applicable at the time,” she concluded.