An umbrella group of blind and vision-impaired people have called a demonstration to coincide with the lord mayor of Dublin’s inauguration ceremony next week.
Their protest is aimed at Dublin City Council’s decision to switch off audible signals at pedestrian crossings in the city.
The council has been turning off signals sporadically for more than a year following complaints from sighted members of the public that they were causing confusion.
Avril Daly from Fighting Blindness told ireland.com: "We have very serious issues with this decision, it is difficult enough for vision-impaired people to navigate around the city and this move."
She added that many of the group's members were reliant on the audible signals. "Partially sighted people have trouble seeing cars and bicycles, never mind the visual crossing signal."
The organisers are expecting a substantial turnout for the demonstration on Monday next at 6.30pm outside City Hall.
Oliver Mooney, chairman of the National League of the Blind, said the council's decision left blind and vision impaired people in a very dangerous situation. "I have a guide dog, but even I’m worried about going into town, imagine how someone who relies on a white stick must feel?"
He added: "This will affect people’s independence as well as their personal safety around town."
Desmond Kenny of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) said the city council claims it had complaints from the public: "Apparently sighted people have complained that more than one audible signal nearby can cause confusion and this is enough for the council to turn them all off."
He added the council has been unable to provide evidence of the level of complaints as records had not been kept.
The NCBI are demanding that the City Council switch all audible signals back on and discuss a public awareness campaign to tackle any perceived confusion.