Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are more than 650,000 people in this State living with a disability. That is in the region of 13% of the population. The majority of them rely on public transport to access work, health care and social and community activities. People with a disability have been so badly let down by public transport in this State. I have raised this on many occasions.

Disabled people in this State have to plan every journey meticulously. Sometimes it must be done several days in advance if they are to comply with the rules laid down by public transport companies. Unmanned train stations are a massive problem, as are broken lifts and the fact that people have to give prior notice to travel. Prior notice is totally unacceptable to the majority of disabled people. That Iarnród Éireann's policy is now to remove staff from train stations complicates this even further. This could be remedied quite easily through the provision of buses with lifts and ramps, and footpaths of an adequate level. It could be remedied if train stations had sufficient staff. The ongoing battle faced by people with disabilities in going about their daily lives is a source of considerable frustration, stress and anxiety. I have actually heard what is happening described by disability activists as a form of apartheid. There is clearly a separation of rights, and people with disabilities have been left out in the cold in this State. If the State is advocating that people with disabilities have a right to work and participate, it must act to ensure they can travel freely so that their needs may be accommodated. The constant stress over travel is having a detrimental effect on people with disabilities day in, day out.

I have heard regularly from constituents of mine that the bus drives off leaving them at the side of the road because it is unable to accommodate their needs. I have also heard of people left sitting on platforms in railway stations because there are no staff to assist them getting onto the train. Equally bad is leaving people on trains because there are no staff to help them get off. If inclusion for people with a disability means equality of participation, it should include all parts of society. The State has an onus to facilitate those concerned. I hope the Government supports the motion. I hope it is genuine support backed up with a plan of action to deliver rights for all.

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