Wheelchair users and disability advocates say thousands of families are missing out on holidays in Ireland due to a lack of accommodation fitted with hoists and other necessary equipment.
Aaron Daly of Changing Places Ireland told RTÉ's This Week programme that while Ireland is very good at providing top class tourist facilities, the disability community is "being completely left out".
"It always seems like it's a box ticking exercise with disability," he said. "The bare minimum is always met. But there are very few places that are actually willing to provide facilities that are completely accessible and appropriate for families like us."
Mr Daly's 16-year-old daughter, Sophia, requires a hoist and a height adjustable bed. He says the lack of these facilities in Irish accommodation means his family are often denied the opportunity to holiday together.
"Hoist facilities are a major thing for us now that Sophia's older. We’re finding it increasingly difficult to travel anywhere unless we have the right facilities and the right equipment there to make everything comfortable for us."
Changing Places Ireland has been lobbying for appropriate changing facilities in every town in Ireland.
"We tend to visit places that have a hoist facility and a changing bench where we can change our daughter. Other than that, we have to stay close to home," Mr Daly said.
Heartlands House, which recently opened in Co Leitrim, is aiming to change the situation.
Several of its ten guest rooms are equipped with hoists, tracking and ensuite bathrooms with shower cradles.
Heartlands House, which is in Carrick-on-Shannon, was conceived and planned by sisters Breege Byrne and Angela Coleman, both of whom have long experience in nursing.
"Everyone deserves a holiday," Ms Coleman said. "It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what needs you have; everyone deserves a break. We all know how refreshed we feel if we go away for a night or even a weekend."
Heartlands House is open to all guests but has been designed to welcome wheelchair users and those with intellectual disabilities.
The house includes a games room, a sensory room where guests can relax with soft music and lighting and an all-weather hot tub.
"You can bring somebody down, then hoist them across out of their wheelchair, or the shower cradle, into the hot tub," Ms Byrne said.
Among the first guests to visit Heartlands were a group of men and women with intellectual disabilities, from St Michaels House in Dublin. They were accompanied by carers from their residential unit, led by Rachael Browne
"What's different about here is that we were able to facilitate everybody to have a big holiday all together. Sometimes that can be difficult with such a large group," she said.
Ms Coleman said safety was important when planning the accommodation. There is an elevator and wide corridors and doors throughout for easy movement of wheelchairs.
"Staff who come with guests need to be able to relax and know they're not going to break good china, or cause themselves any injury," explained Angela Coleman.
Heartlands House has linked up with local Leitrim and Roscommon attractions including the Lough Ree wheelchair accessible boat trips, as well as local bars and restaurants.
Wheelchair user and advocate Samantha Ryan said finding appropriate accommodation in Ireland is very frustrating. She set up Wheel Reviews - an Instagram page where wheelchair users trade tips about facilities across Irish hospitality.
"I was always travelling around Ireland and could never get good information on wheelchair accessible hotels," she said.
"They’ll tell you a place is wheelchair accessible, and there can be a step going in the door. Or you have to go down a back alleyway into a little side door, and they’ve to move the kitchen bins and stuff. It’s crazy."
Ms Ryan said that while a majority of Irish hotels now boast swimming pools, Wheel Reviews could only find a handful with hoists to get wheelchair users into the water.
"I think every hotel should get one wheelchair user in to have a look at their place. It’s really bad paying to go away for a night out, then getting there and finding out there’s no accessible bathroom in your bedroom."
Both Samantha Ryan and Aaron Daly welcome the opening of Heartlands House in Leitrim - something they would like to see in every town.
"It opens up the country a little bit," Mr Daly said.
"It would be nice if we could visit any town in Ireland and not have to go back to the van to change our daughter, or wonder if we can get her up steps, or get a bed that suits - the things that normal families take for granted."
