Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome the work that has been done in respect of the production of the sectoral plan. I particularly welcome the fact that there is now 100% wheelchair access on all Dublin Bus vehicles and that Bus Éireann has met its obligations in the context of inter-city bus services. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said in respect of some other bus operators. I refer, in particular, to Aircoach, which is now owned by First Bus, the largest bus operator in the United Kingdom. One of my constituents contacted Aircoach on behalf of a wheelchair user who wished to travel to Belfast. The constituent in question was not able to obtain a guarantee that a wheelchair-accessible vehicle would be available and that advance notice would have to be given with regard to the time the person in the wheelchair proposed to travel. Aircoach provides bus services between Dublin Airport and the city centre and I understand the same problem exists on these services. Like Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and every other bus operator, this company is operating under licences provided by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport but it is not meeting its obligations in respect of providing wheelchair access. Will the Minister of State comment on this matter and will his Department contact Aircoach and remind it that it has an obligation to disabled people and wheelchair users?