Bid to win autism and age-friendly status for Kinnegad

Suggestions that Killucan and Kinnegad become autism friendly towns and that Kinnegad work towards achieving Age-Friendly Town status were made by Cllr Denis Leonard at April’s meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

Formally proposing both campaigns, Cllr Leonard asked that the district support the towns in achieving the designations.

Becoming an autism-friendly town would, he explained, involve becoming a more inclusive and understanding community, and effecting improvements in the local environment around less noise and light pollution, being open to employing autistic people and helping local business to be put on the ‘AsIAm’ website as Autism Friendly to the autism community.

On the question of Age-Friendly Town status, Cllr Leonard reminded members that it was designated in the County Development Plan and it involves provision of more step-down housing, a nursing home, local amenities and activities and accessible footpaths.

To Cllr Leonard’s first proposal, the response from the district executive stated that the council’s community section has advised that it will prioritise working with Kinnegad Town Team to investigate a means of supporting Kinnegad in becoming an autism friendly town.

“The process when developed as part of this work will be then shared with Killucan businesses and community to implement,” the response concluded.

In relation to his age-friendly town proposal, the response stated that the community section had advised that obtaining Age Friendly Town status is a four-step process which includes the implementation of a walkability study and the development of a plan.

The response revealed that a walkability study was taking place in Kinnegad.

“When the plan is developed, the agreed actions will be implemented by the stakeholders,” it concluded.

Cllr Leonard remarked that something that annoyed him was that the council rejected a planning application for a large nursing home in Kinnegad – even after the area had been designated ‘age-friendly’.

His motions were supported by Cllr David Jones, who also felt Westmeath County Council should have a full-time disability/equality/inclusion officer.