Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for partnership Government states "people with disabilities should be supported in maximising their potential, by removing barriers". During the weekend Mr. James Cawley, a young teacher who is a disability advocate, gave 50 hours' notice of his intention to travel on Bus Éireann. He was forced to take a trip around the country and pay €200 in taxi fares to make a journey from Ballina to Longford. This is not the first time, unfortunately, that we have heard of stories of people with a disability left stranded by our public transport network. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment that he will talk to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues to ensure that people who have mobility issues or disabilities can at the very minimum be guaranteed that they can avail of public transport when they give the required notice? Currently, unfortunately, that is not happening.

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