Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank TII and NTA for their presentations. I have had the pleasure of engaging before with Mr. Creegan on issues in Newbridge. I have a number of questions to put to both organisations. I will first go to TII and then to the NTA. I have three questions for TII. It is good to see their access officer, Ms Sarah O’Donnell, in attendance too. When they commence tendering for companies to provide motorway service stations, do they specify that there must be a provision for a changing places facility? If they do not, then why not? At this point, that should certainly be factored in. When they carry out road or footpath renewal projects along routes for which they take primary responsibility, do they automatically take into account wheelchair accessible buses and their sizes? Third, when preparing plans for going through towns, villages or cities, do they engage with the local disability organisations, advocates, or local authority access officers to take cognisance of the lived experiences of people with disabilities to avoid potential pinch points? Too often we have seen this only after the work is done.

I have questions for the NTA. I already mentioned that Ms O’Donnell is here, as access officer for TII. It would have been good if the NTA had brought their transport accessibility manager. Why did they not think that appropriate? On Part 8: public realm and streetscape regeneration schemes, what level of interaction does the NTA have with local authorities undertaking these projects to try to make sure that wheelchair accessible bus stops are being built into streetscapes? We see a lot of money being spent on public realm, and we will see a lot more over the next few years. It is important to take that on board and to avoid any unnecessary wastage of budget, due to retrofitting afterwards. Has the NTA engaged with Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus or Irish Rail disability user groups for input when purchasing new fleet or when designing new infrastructure? The fleet of the Luas is totally accessible. Do they hold any specific consultations with groups or advocates representing mobility-impaired persons to ensure that purchased bus or rail fleet is compliant, not just with international standards, which have apparently not kept pace with the development of powered wheelchairs? They are considerably bigger than those that have been laid down for access. Do they consult with them? Complaints have been received that powered wheelchairs are getting stuck by the driver area. Finally, there are two different bus sets of colours being used on the same route. People have come to me in relation to that causing problems for them. There is blue and yellow, and then there is red and white. That causes problems for with people with cognitive disabilities.