Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

So can the Deputy. I am sure the NTA would be as accessible to him as it is to me. I agree with everything the Deputy says. I will not be content until we have got a situation where those in wheelchairs can travel as easily as we can and we are nowhere near that situation yet. I am not saying anything in a mood of self-satisfaction but hopefully we are moving in that direction. We have acknowledged it with additional funds and fast moves in the direction of greater accessibility but it is not good enough yet.

Let me update the Deputy with the situation as it is now. The NTA's objective is to upgrade bus stops, where possible, to ensure that all main towns have at least one wheelchair lift-accessible bus stop in each direction. This programme is at an early stage. The NTA advised that plans are in progress for the installation of wheelchair-accessible stops at Ballyshannon and Sligo bus stations. However, according to the NTA, it is likely to be 2020 or 2021 before those works are completed. The NTA is aware that high floor single deck coaches do not offer a good customer experience to wheelchair users, which is what the Deputy referred to. While there is currently no viable alternative to the use of these vehicles on longer distance services, the NTA, along with Bus Éireann, is implementing a change in its fleet strategy for shorter regional commuter services. In future, an increasing number of these services will be operated by low entry coach-style vehicles, rather than high-floor coaches. The NTA is in the process of procuring these vehicles, which are equipped with a ramp at the entrance door suitable for the mobility impaired and a dedicated wheelchair space within a low floor area in the front half of the vehicle.

In the normal course of events, operators are responsible for determining the allocation of bus fleet to individual bus routes. From a policy perspective, I advised the House recently that one of my priorities is to complete a review of existing public transport policy as committed to under A Programme for a Partnership Government. This review is a significant and substantial resource commitment and my Department has commenced and substantially completed the research and analysis required. I urge everyone, including Members of the Oireachtas, to take the opportunity to contribute to the public consultation and outline their views on all aspects of public transport policy, including in relation to accessible public transport.

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