Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am aware of the campaign and the case to which he is referring. Whereas we have concentrated and done an enormous amount for people with disabilities and there is no doubt about that, it is shown in the figures and the results, we cannot do everything and I cannot intervene in a specific case or route to satisfy one person, however awful their hardship. That is not my role. I will, however, certainly pass on what the Deputy says about that case to the NTA.

What we have done for disabilities in transport, what the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport has done and what people such as Senator Dolan and the Minister of State with special responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath, as well as others in this House who are involved, have done has involved making a great deal of progress but it is slow enough progress. When a Deputy brings an impeccable and unanswerable case like that before the House, we will do everything we possibly can to see that as soon as possible, the Deputy will not be able to come into the House with cases like that and nor will any other Deputy. There are multiple such cases around the country. I know the Deputy is right about that because certain coaches are not fully wheelchair accessible but we are moving as fast as we can in that direction. The Deputy's case, which is compelling, will be conveyed to the NTA and I will suggest that it should spur it on to further efforts to make sure the necessary measures are taken countrywide, which we aim to take as soon as possible.

I am not involved in the day to day operations of public transport. This is a very good and suitable forum for the Deputy to bring up the case but he would not expect me to say that I will move and do something with the 480 route between Donegal town and Sligo, including access to Sligo Institute of Technology, this evening. It is not something which is either within my power or would be possible for me to do. What the Deputy has done is to highlight the case which is there, as well as others, who are undoubtedly in the same boat. I have explained to the House previously that under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network.

In addition, the NTA has responsibility for the purchase of bus and coach fleets required by Bus Éireann to which the Deputy referred, Dublin Bus, Go Ahead and other operators which operate subsidised public service obligation, PSO bus services on behalf of the NTA. The NTA has advised that Dublin Bus and Go Ahead fleets are fully wheelchair-accessible by ramp. All urban services operated by Bus Éireann are also fully wheelchair-accessible by ramp. However, and the Deputy obviously wishes to highlight this, Bus Éireann's regional services are primarily operated using high-floor coaches, which are wheelchair-accessible by lift. In practice, lifts are less flexible than ramps as they require the removal of seating in order to accommodate passengers in wheelchairs. I am advised that for that reason, passengers need to give Bus Éireann advance notice of their intention to travel. In addition, a large flat area of adjacent footpath is required to operate the lift, typically 3 m wide and 3.5 m in depth. According to the NTA, in many towns and villages it is extremely challenging to achieve the necessary footpath dimensions for the vehicle lift to function. Solutions such as relocating the bus stop to an alternative location may be necessary, but this can give rise to additional problems in that the alternative stop location may not suit other users. In other cases, land or property acquisition may be required to obtain the necessary space, potentially requiring the exercise of compulsory acquisition powers to acquire the relevant lands.

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