Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are several wheelchair users in the Laytown-Bettystown area and throughout County Louth and in every other county, town and village. One wheelchair user had been in contact about this issue with the previous Minister and had been in continuous correspondence with Bus Éireann and the Department, all to no avail. As I asked in my priority question, what plans has the Minister that are different from the previous Minister's to address this issue? I cannot imagine an individual in another European country being told to telephone the rail or bus station 24 hours in advance of making a journey to make sure there will be a train or a bus that he or she can access. One would not hear the like of that in any European country.

It is all down to this issue never have been prioritised properly. If there is one good effective initiative the Minister could do in his transport portfolio, it would be to address the lack of equality of access for people with disabilities. I said this gentleman has been in touch with the previous Minister. I ask the Minister again to look into this matter and not to give the bog standard letter that is sent out with the every excuse under the sun being given. Will he take this issue seriously? Will he make it his business to address disability access on the public transport network and, if he will, what will his plans be and how does he intend to be different?

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