Ms Anne Graham:

We have a number of contracts at different stages. For any new contracts that we put forward now we want a low-floor wheelchair vehicle to be available, as part of that service.

In terms of the rural transport services, of which there are more than 1,300 different services operating throughout the State, we felt it was appropriate, given that many of those operators own just one bus, that we give them some notice to transfer and change their fleet so they can offer a low-floor wheelchair accessible vehicle as part of their service. We have given them a two-year lead-in time for such work. Those buses should be fully wheelchair accessible in another 18 months to two years. If they do not comply then we will re-tender the service on the basis that we need a wheelchair accessible fleet in place.

The Deputy also asked about Iarnród Éireann.