Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am already doing it. It was something I took on board two years ago when I came into the Department, when we building a lot of greenways and expanding the offerings. I felt it was wrong that we were not including people with disabilities and that we were not giving them that same opportunity to engage. We did this by understanding universal design. This includes how, for example, if gates are not the right width, it will prevent people in wheelchairs from accessing our greenways. The conversation came from there. I met with a group called Variety, which made a fantastic presentation to the Department of Children, Disability, Equality Integration. I had not moved to it yet at that time. They gave a presentation to the former Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration. I did not have any money in that budget so I asked the Minister for Transport, Deputy Éamon Ryan, for a few pounds and he partnered with me. We also did research on it with the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, RSCI, to find the outcomes for people. This included putting a chair on the bike, as well as allowing children who have slow development delays to access the trike. There were, therefore, trikes and mobility bikes for people who might never have had the experience of having the wind in their hair on a greenway. We renewed that this year and we increased our funding. Initially, I had to partner on this and I think the Minister, Deputy Ryan, provided approximately €75,000. Last year, I came up with €375,000. We have extended the scheme. I genuinely do believe that more people would avail of that if we could completely broaden it.

It is the people who are aware of it who are able to access it and to engage with Variety. The RCSI report and study on it were phenomenal. It is not a rural or urban issue; it is an access-for-all opportunity. There is a lot in it as regards the trikes and cargo bikes and looking at a mechanism. As regards the relationship, it was my first time working cross-departmentally. We worked with the Minister for Transport on that and it gave us phenomenal opportunity. I believe there are opportunities there to work with other Departments if I cannot find the funding. Taking the research out of it, the likes of the RCSI gave us a really strong footing in that when I went back the next time, the Department of Health was able to come on board.