Event News!
The ´Disability Action Plan National Conference´ was held on the 18th September 2007 in the Castle Court Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo.
The DoEHLG and LGMSB Disability Act Steering Group who organized the conference were delighted with the large turnout of 107 delegates representing the 34 local authorities. The conference began with a welcoming address by Mr. Des Mahon, Mayo County Manager. Mayo was chosen to host the conference in recognition of the fact that they are the overall public sector winners of the O2 Ability Award 2007. Mr. Michael Malone, Kildare County Manager and Chair of the DoEHLG and LGMSB Disability Act Steering Group made the opening address.
The first presentation was by Mr. Niall Crowley, C.E.O. of the Equality Authority and was entitled ´Equality of Service Provision´. This was followed by a presentation from Ms Mary Van Lieshout, Head of Research and Standards, National Disability Authority. Ms Van Lieshout presented the ´National Disability strategy and the Code of Practice on Accessible Public Services´. In order to ensure that the conference was targeted at, and of direct relevance to the key staff assigned responsibility for devising and driving forward the local implementation plans, the LGMSB scheduled the conference programme to allow for parallel sessions in the afternoon that best addressed the issues of most relevance staff.
The Parallel sessions included:
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´Development Management guidelines for Planning Authorities´ – aimed at Senior Planners/Architects/Engineers
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´Examples of Innovative and Best Practice´ – aimed at Access Officers
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´Managing the Implementation Plan Process´ – aimed at Senior Decision Makers
The parallel sessions were a great success with plenty of discussion and debate.
Following the parallel sessions the days topics were summarised by the panel members and the closing address was given by Mr. Seaghan Ó´Lanagain, C.E.O. of the Local Government Management Services Board. The event was a great success and the LGMSB has received very positive feedback from delegates relating to the quality of the presentations.
Many thanks to Maggie O’Brien and the DoEHLG and LGMSB Disability Act Steering Group and to all of the speakers and chairpersons who helped make this a worthwhile event. Please see below for some photos and proceedings from the event.
Mr Des Mahon - Mayo County Manager delivering his speech
Dr. Pauline Conroy - Director Ralaheen ltd., Mr. Michael Malone - Kildare County Manager, Ms Mary Van Lieshout – Head of Research & Standards NDA, Mr Seaghan O Lanagain – CEO LGMSB
Dr. Rosarie Mc Carthy – Senior Policy & Public Affairs Advisor NDA, Mr Joe Loftus – DOS Mayo Co Co, Mr Pat Coffey – Access Officer Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Co, Ms Josephine Brady, County Librarian Cavan Co Co, Mr Kevin Cooke – Access Officer Mayo Co Co
Mr Niall Crowley – CEO Equality Authority, Ms Mary Van Lieshout – Head of Research & Standards NDA, Mr Des Mahon - Mayo County Manager, Dr. Pauline Conroy - Director Ralaheen ltd