Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

We recently published, for the first time ever, guidelines for accessible maritime passenger transport. Those rules and guidelines apply now. They were issued under the Disability Act to provide practical advice and information for those involved in the provision of maritime passenger transport services and cover all aspects of maritime passenger journeys. For example, they provide advice on providing accessibility information for the planning of a journey, improvements to shore side facilities in ports, harbours and piers, improving access on board vessels, disability awareness training for staff, emergency planning and improving customer relations for mobility impaired passengers.

We did that because we obviously support and encourage the continued improvements, as does the Deputy, in accessible maritime passenger transport services because it gives people with disabilities the chance to avail of those facilities. From the point of view of accessibility they have been catered for, not just in this section. An earlier section, the number of which I cannot recall, deals with accessibility. We have the guidelines in place. That point is addressed.

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