Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

An issue arises. Wheelchair-accessible vehicle, WAV, licences are available because the cars cost too much. I am trying to create a solution in terms of the cars' specifications, which are too costly. We must reach a happy medium and the cost must be reduced. More than €40,000 for a car is ridiculous. Grants were available for a two-year period to people who wanted to begin providing these services. Surprisingly, the take-up was low.

There is an administrative issue. The cars do not need to be new. I am in discussions with the Department of Finance to determine whether a combination of reducing specifications and getting something in return for those who enter this industry is possible. We are trying to get that pendulum swinging.

There is a broader issue with the industry. Often, I deal with a good group that is trying to get wheelchair taxis. It monitors the situation with me. A number of people who drive wheelchair accessible taxis do not provide that service. This is unacceptable. They are taking their golfing buddies out to the airport while someone needs a taxi. This situation must be addressed. I am putting in place a process to that effect because it should not be tolerated. The instance of drivers who receive subsidies to enter the market yet who do not provide the service as intended must be prevented.

We are also considering the creation of a centralised telephone number so that people with disabilities can access cars. We will monitor it. If operators refuse a certain number of journeys, we will inquire into why and examine their licences. There must be respect for the car. We will consider the issue with the Department of Finance. We must ensure that operators do what they have their licences to do.

Rural Ireland does not have enough of these licences. With the National Transport Authority, NTA, which has jurisdiction in this regard, I am trying to create a process whereby more people can be brought into that space. One has fewer options in rural Ireland. I know this only too well, given that I live there.

Deputy Kenny raised a good point. Private operators are slightly different from public operators. We are governed by European legislation. As a result of being approached by the Deputy and others, I am making inquiries into why Aircoach and other private operators are not legally obliged to provide wheelchair access. Under the rules, such services must be provided in cities and large urban areas in which buses operate internally. Dublin Bus is a classic example. This is the reason it has reached 100% accessibility. Even though it could be argued that Aircoach buses travel from one end of Dublin to the airport, it and similar providers are not legally obliged to provide accessibility. We have asked the NTA to examine this situation and I will report on its findings.

Deputy Fleming raised the issue of WAVs in the context of the rural transport scheme, which has been a successful programme. I have been working on it for many months and years. I am supportive of it, but it needs to be brought into mainstream public transport. Some of the best and most impressive people I have met as a Minister of State are involved in rural transport. I have visited, met here or met at national events nearly every rural transport scheme in the country. They should be a part of mainstream public transport because rural Ireland needs integration. They must be placed on a sound footing and be brought into closer alignment with local authorities and the work of same. There is no point in mini-buses going up and down roads in which local authorities have not invested. The authorities should know the routes so that they might invest.

There must also be greater integration with school transport and non-acute health-related transport. It is crazy that school buses travel in and out of towns all over the country for nine months of the year and that there is no one on them for the return trips at 9 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.

When I travelled on a school bus, the bus driver was allowed to stop and pick up people. Obviously, there are various reasons that is no longer possible. As far as I am concerned, school buses are public transport vehicles and they can act as such and provide a service where none exists. It will not be a panacea but it is an example of what is required, namely, greater integration between all the services, which is not the case at present.

The rural transport groups provide much accessible transport as well. For example, Clare Accessible Transport, which is part of the rural transport programme, RTP, does fantastic work. That is just one example. There is another example in Meath and there are many others.

Free travel was raised by one speaker. That is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. I accept the point in terms of coverage. I also accept that certain points must be taken on board. Broadly speaking, they are the areas covered.