A motion mandating the Welfare Officer and the Officer for Students with Disabilities of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) to review access to campus via the Pearse Street gate was passed at a meeting of TCDSU council this evening.
As it stands, the gate has limited opening hours and this hinders students’ ability to access campus, especially students studying on D’Olier Street, who have have “restricted lunch breaks”, according to the motion.
According to the College website, the gate is currently open from 8am-10am and 4pm-6.30pm on weekdays only.
The current Officer for Students with Disabilities, Tara McCormack, who proposed the motion, also highlighted the “inconvenience” for students on crutches and students with other disabilities.
The review will be conducted by the Welfare Officer and the Officer for Students with Disabilities with the view to bringing the issue to the Estates and Facilities Office in College and lobbying for increased opening hours of the gate.
Speaking to The University Times, McCormack stated: “It’s an access thing. As disability officer, the more access we have on campus, the better because we have no facilities like cafes in D’Olier Street, campus is the only place we can go for a hot meal.”
