Local elections candidate visits Tullamore-based supported education centre
Students from the Advance programme at National Learning Network (NLN), based in the Tanyard, Tullamore, invited local Green Party representative Liam Walsh to their supported education centre recently.
Mr Walsh was chosen as a Green Party candidate late last summer and held an unofficial launch for his campaign on November 25 in St Mary's Youth Centre Tullamore on sustainability for the future.
NLN is an organisation which provides inclusive education and training opportunities with specialist supports to promote student success in personal, vocational, and occupational goals.
As “Inclusion” is stated as a priority in Mr Walsh's campaign, ‘Nothing about us, without us’, the students were eager to engage in an open and yet focused meeting with the Green Party candidate running in next year’s local elections.
Blaise Kenny, a member of the NLN student advocacy committee, opened the meeting with a powerful presentation of facts and photos of the footpaths and traffic lights that need serious and immediate attention in the locality.
Blaise went on to say: “It is a human right that all people should be treated equally,” explaining that the footpaths are not accessible for wheelchair users or people pushing buggies, and that they are a hazard for people with visual impairments and elderly people.
Lee Hensey, a student at NLN, had done his homework when he asked Mr Walsh: “What are you going to do about this situation and how can you help change and improve it?”
Mr Walsh said: “Great work has been done during the year by Offaly Disability Equality Network (ODEN) around the area of accessibility. In May 2023, ODEN produced a report and action plan entitled ‘Accessible Offaly.’ This piece of work has engaged with, surveyed, and interviewed over 200 people, all from within the disability community, with some insightful findings.”
Mr Walsh encouraged the students and staff of NLN Tullamore to consider joining ODEN, so that their network would be widened, be more inclusive and their voices would be heard.
Mr Walsh added: “Now is the time to highlight action is needed by the council, what is been done in relation to the following; making footpaths safe, hazardous high kerbs, cars blocking parking areas and clear footpath access. Who is accountable within the council for these issues and would they carry out an access audit?”
The students of NLN are going to devise a survey, which they will disseminate out to the general public and residents of Tullamore, get their feedback, write up a report and present it to the CEO of Offaly County Council for consideration and action.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Walsh thanked the students and their instructor Sharon Mellsop for highlighting these issues and he said he is willing to work with them over the coming months and help them bring a proposal to the council.
As a Green representative, Mr Walsh encouraged the management at NLN to consider switching to 2GOCUPS for each student, saying the move would “reduce plastic and paper cups in the centre. Switch to re-useable ones” as he presented Advocacy Student Representative Aine Brophy with one of the cups. For further information on any of the above, email Liam at liam.walsh@greenparty.ie