A new beach wheelchair prototype has been tested in Waterford.
It comes after calls were made by Blaise Hannigan and Independent TD Matt Shanahan among others, to make beaches accessible for all.
The wheelchair was designed to be used without the need for separate trials on beach mats.
Sean Rohan of Waterford's Disability Network described the wheelchair to WLR News.
"This is far more accessible in that it's a regular sit down chair. The wheels are far thicker, both the back wheels and the front wheels. It's been specially engineered, in that case - it can basically go anywhere on the beach."
Sean believes that Waterford's beaches must be made accessible to everyone.
The wheelchair needs some slight adjustments, but will be able to be used on wet and dry sand.
He outlined what the aim of the trial was as a whole.
"What is hoped is that we can secure funding so that we can have it installed in Tramore, to be used all year round to give access to the beach to wheelchair users. The benefit of having a chair like this is that the person can use it themselves and there's no need for any infrastructure. In some beaches around the country, they put down mats that wheelchairs can roll upon."
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