Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I hope this plan will go ahead and that it is not another pie in the sky dream of the kind the Minister's Government often comes up with. Bus Éireann provides a very good service in west Cork, yet if people with disabilities want to travel from any town in west Cork to the city, they must give 24 hours' notice. In an age in which we want everyone to be equal, I find this very hard to swallow. Even if the bus is disability-friendly, there are towns in which the bus stop is not. A lot of work needs to be done in this area.

I also want to raise a few issues which affect people who are visually impaired.

Those who are blind or visually impaired cannot drive and, therefore, public transport is their only means of transport. Accessible public transport is vital for their independence. Availability goes hand in hand with accessibility.

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