Published: Friday, 6th November, 2009 9:00am

Taoiseach pays tribute to Offaly inventor

Taoiseach Brian Cowen paid a special visit to the Tullamore Court Hotel to meet the winner of the prestigious James Dyson Award in Ireland, which was presented to Offaly student Noel Joyce on Wednesday at Design Week Student Creativity Day.

Twenty-nine year old Carlow IT design student, Noel Joyce, was presented with the James Dyson Best of Irish Design Award for his invention - a hydraulic wheelchair braking system, which is set to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people. Noel was presented with the award and a cheque for €2,500.

Design Ireland chose to move the annual Student Creativity Day outside Dublin for the first time in honour of Noel's huge achievement. The event coincided with a seminar and two day exhibition on Design in Business run by Noel's start-up company, Design Hub.Congratulating Noel on the award, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Noel was an inspiring young man.

"In the current economic climate, it is hugely refreshing to see someone with Noel's determination and enthusiasm. The Ergo Stop Wheelchair brake will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of wheelchair users both in Ireland and abroad. In addition it will create important new jobs for Irish People. Noel's start-up company Design Hub will give a great boost to the economy in the Midlands. I am very proud that Noel is from my home county. He is an inspiration for future generations."

As an active wheelchair user, Noel had a lot of problems with the existing wheelchair braking system, which led him to search for a new solution."I employ my brakes around 40 - 50 times a day for different reasons such as when I am working, having a meal, getting in and out of my car as well as for every other menial task that any able bodied person carries out in a day.

These are things I can't avoid as an independent person. I realised that the current brakes were costing me a lot of unnecessary time and effort, as well as causing the brakes to suffer greatly from wear and tear," he said.

Noel says his invention will make an awkward task, which is unavoidable to all wheelchair users, easy and intuitive.