Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the transport service providers and thank them for their very informative presentations. My first question is general. Do they comply with some directive on the percentage of their funding to be set aside to provide an upgrade in disability services? Of every €10 they spend, how much is geared towards improving disability access and safe travel?

My next question may be parochial and relates to joined-up thinking between Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann with regard to Kent Station in Cork. The entrance to the Kent Station has been changed. What protocols were put in place for passenger access to the station in the event of one of the lifts going out of service? Why did Irish Rail not put a ramp in place in the new station? At the moment if the lift breaks, there is no ramp access for wheelchair users from the new entrance. Was there a breakdown in communication there?

Twenty-four hours seems like a long time for people to have to give notification. Could that be reduced to four hours? Mr. Hernan spoke about Bus Éireann, but for rail users, could the 24-hour notice be reduced to four hours?

What efforts has Irish Rail made to incorporate or retrofit automated wheelchair ramps into their carriages? In its recent purchases Irish Rail has failed to the required standard by not having the wheelchair space and wheelchair-accessible toilets in each carriage.