Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and the supplementary documents, which have been useful in detailing different aspects of the programme. My questions will build on what has already been asked. If we look at what is already there, what is coming next and the new plans, is universal design part of what the NTA and TII are planning? I know it was referred to as being a part of vehicles. Universal design is not just in terms of the bus or rail stock we have, but it is also about the engagement of auditing the journey from door to door, for example, the accessibility of our stations and stops.

Following on from the question about bus shelters, the issue is not necessarily just about bus shelters. It is also about seats. In some cases, it is not just about having a covered bus shelter, but about having seating. Seating is a real consideration for people who use and rely on public transport, buses and rail. Can the witnesses comment on that? I want to flag that the idea of having a top 20 or top 30 bus stop piece might need to be reconfigured with the ambition level raised. I say this in the context that we have a programme for Government that is committed to a radical rebalancing of the amount of money that is to be spent on public transport, as opposed to other road infrastructure. That is a shift and a commitment in terms of our transport spending.

I have come from the launch of the climate committee’s report on transport. I am a member of that committee. Witnesses will be aware that there is a real ambition and a commitment on resources. What we hope to hear from the witnesses – I hear some of it – is for a level of ambition. Given the significant scaling-up of public transport that is required over the next five to ten years in Ireland, will universal design be part of that? Will that be central to it? How do we ensure that it not all about having to do all the green infrastructure and finding that there is no time left to do the disability accessible infrastructure? How can those be deeply combined?

I had specific questions as to seating, which is a key issue. In terms of platforms, I know there is an issue with platform-to-carriage accessibility. Has the lowering of certain parts of a platform been looked? It is not about looking at the entire platform but a part of a platform so we can have better accessibility that is there as standard.

This is the major shift across all of transport policy, not just in terms of disabilities.

I refer to the consultation on Local Link and rural transport that is happening. I am concerned that a demand-led strategy is still at the centre. Demand led is fine, but it necessarily involves a large community and a loud campaign. Communities have had to fight for public transport when, in fact, we as a State need to move to a point where we are actively offering public transport to everybody, including people with a disability. Could Mr. Walsh assure us about the result of that consultation? It is often the case that people are shouting they want something to be accessible.

A demand-led service is linked to the question of advance notice and staffing. We have heard about lifts being out of order, some are old stock, they get vandalised and people need notice so that there is somebody to assist at a platform. With increased public expenditure, should there be increased staffing as part of that so there are staffed stations? We know that is a deterrent against vandalism and encourages people to participate more.

I want to give credit to the Dublin Bus travel assistance scheme, which has been really good. It is a person-centred scheme which has been very impactful. It has been readvertised by Dublin Bus. Is that scheme something that we might see more of nationally?

I refer to the design manual for urban roads and streets, DMURS. TII has that role in terms of being part of the Department of Transport's design of urban roads and streets. I refer to car free and pedestrian roads and other forms of travel. I would like to get a sense of how TII is engaging around DMURS in terms of looking to active travel spaces that are inclusive for people with a disability. It is not just about buses and rail; it also includes active travel spaces. For example, people would have active travel options in order to reach a public transport option. Could Mr. Walsh comment on that?