Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that while the Minister cannot specifically deal with this case I would like to broaden the issue out. I met Vicky and other wheelchair users in Ballyshannon in recent weeks and they told me that if, for instance, they want to go to Dublin Airport on the bus, they can use a bus that has a lift to get onto the bus. However, they feel this is most inappropriate because it really emphasises their difference in society because the bus has to stop and a huge area of footpath is taken up after which a ramp comes out and comes down. As one of them said, it is like loading cargo. It takes almost ten minutes for them to get loaded onto the bus. Then if it is a long bus trip in particular, very few of them use it but try to get a train instead because at least on a train, there are toilet facilities, which do not exist on the bus. The bus does not stop and if it does stop somewhere where they want to use the toilet, it is a siege and a half to get off the bus and get back on again.

There really needs to be some joined-up thinking on this issue. The Minister's reference to the National Transport Authority in respect of that is well and good but high-floor buses basically do not work for people in wheelchairs or for people with disabilities in general. I looked at that bus that was being used in Donegal. It was parked in the bus station in Ballyshannon on one of the days we were visiting the town. I counted six steps to get up to the level of the bus. Even if one takes away the person in the wheelchair, there is the elderly person and it is a serious issue for older or more frail people who have difficulty walking or using steps. What we need to do is to quickly move to a situation where low-access buses are used in as many places as possible. Particularly in the case of long journeys, if rail transport can be used and is more accessible, we need to make sure there are links to such transport for people with disabilities. In some cases, one will be talking about going back to trying to have a taxi available to bring people to college and so on.

In this particular case, there is a solution. There are buses based in Sligo that have low access and if those buses are transferred onto this route, this issue can be solved. I appreciate it is not the Minister's job to direct the National Transport Authority but at the same time, I am sure he could have a conversation with it, without directing it.

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