Five Year Wait for Accessible Public Seating
Public seating installed in Dublin 2 from 2014 was useless to seniors or disabled people, despite being signed off by Dublin City Architects for Dublin City Council. Finally, in November 2019, suitable seating has been provided for the Grafton Quarter.
Information provided due to my request under the Freedom of Information Act shows that the public spend on seating for Dublin 2 was zero in 2014 and 2015. €12,000 was spent in 2016 on metal seating where Dame Lane meets South Great George’s Street. In 2017, the Council spent €3,800 on granite benches on South Great George’s Street. In 2018, the spend increased to €10,420 on granite benches outside the Gaiety Theatre on Wicklow Street.
These seats are low — metal benches: 40mm, granite benches: 46mm — and have no armrests or backs. Allan Tennent, who is disabled, gave his opinion that they were useless to someone with mobility problems. “First of all the benches are set far too low, if you have problems with your legs or hips you would struggle badly to get back on your feet, and the lack of backs or armrests gives nothing to use as leverage making it doubly difficult… I would be unhappy sitting on those benches. They are also curved, so anything you rest on them beside you, will slip off.”
The DCC spokesperson Paul McCann in the South East Area Office, confirmed that the seating “is approved in advance of installation by the City Architects Section of Dublin City Council.” Their website states:
“Dublin City Architects is responsible for promoting design and providing architectural, urban and conservation design services to Dublin City Council: Aim for Dublin’s citizens to enjoy the highest quality built environment; one that is clear, generous, appropriately-scaled, positive to context, well-made and which promotes access and inclusion.”
As the seating is not inclusive, this reporter contacted the City Architects and Finian McGrath TD, Minister of State for Disability Issues. Neither of them has responded at present.
Paul McCann then provided information regarding the Grafton Quarter Public Realm Plan 2014. “As part of the improvement scheme, new public seating was installed at Chatham Street at an approximate cost of €37,000. With regard to future plans to provide public seating, the City Centre Public Realm Master Plan, published in 2016 has a core objective to provide opportunities to rest and linger in the City. It is acknowledged that places to rest and linger at appropriate points in the pedestrian network are an integral part of a quality public realm and such opportunities should be widespread, well-located, easily-accessible and of high quality.”
The newly installed seating is higher with backs and arm rests, made of wood and metal on a stone base. Weary shoppers are already availing of the chance to sit down during the Christmas shopping trek around town. So, the wait may have been long, but a happy Christmas lies in store in 2019.
