John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue in the House on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who is abroad on Government business.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is funding an ongoing programme of accessibility improvement grants to upgrade existing public transport infrastructure and facilities. This includes funding for the upgrading of Iarnród Éireann stations to ensure they are accessible to people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments. Funding in the region of €48 million has been provided to the company for this purpose since 2006. This programme is being administered on behalf of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport by the National Transport Authority.

I understand that Iarnród Éireann's current policy is to have a portable wheelchair ramp at all stations and they are also located on board inter city trains. A member of staff is made available to deploy the ramp safely for use once advance notice is provided, which is the point the Deputy raised.

On the matter of electric ramps the company advises that due to the variability of the interfaces between trains and platforms, including curved platforms, and platforms of different heights, the only possible option for electric ramps is for them to be permanently fitted on board trains. In this regard, Iarnród Éireann undertook a feasibility study into the installation of automatic wheelchair ramps. The study concluded that retrofitting the existing fleet is very challenging from a technical viewpoint and would involve considerable structural alteration to the train design. The best approach would be to incorporate ramps into the train at the design stage of new rolling stock. In effect, due to their complexity this would require that they are built into the train when it is first constructed. The company is committed to such a requirement when ordering new rolling stock in the future. Accordingly it has amended the technical specification for future procurement of new trains to include costed options to incorporate an automatic wheelchair ramp. However, there is currently no requirement for additional rolling stock and no funding is available under the current capital plan to purchase new rolling stock.

The question of retrofitting the existing rolling stock to incorporate electric ramps would also require significant funding and there is no funding available at present for this work.

Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking an audit of all rail stations on behalf of the National Transport Authority which is close to completion and the outcome of this will inform future proposals for improving access at railway stations.

I understand that Iarnród Éireann holds regular meetings with accessibility user groups and has produced an information leaflet to assist those with disabilities using its services.

In addition, Iarnród Éireann is also in discussions with the Central Remedial Clinic regarding the use of Killester station by wheelchair users and has put an agreed protocol in place to assist wheelchair users when travelling on DART services at Killester station. This has ensured that there is generally a member of staff available to assist wheelchair users at Killester station. If a member of staff is not available, Iarnród Éireann is committed to redeploying a staff member to ensure assistance is available at Killester station. It has also invited representatives from the Central Remedial Clinic to future meetings of its accessibility user groups.

The issue raised by the Deputy is dependent on funding availability. Iarnród Éireann is in consultation with its station and is making every effort to engage with the groups who would require a ramp. A huge attempt was made to deal with the issue at Killester station.

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