Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

According to the last census, there are 650,000 people in Ireland with some form of disability. In Ireland, under the Disability Act the term disability is defined as "a substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of ... impairment". Denying or making it difficult for a person with a disability to access transport with ease, whether personal or public transport, increases the restrictions already placed on that person by his or her personal circumstances. By failing to ensure that suitable means of transport are provided to meet the needs of disabled people we are depriving them of the right to live their best lives. We are subjecting them to a life that able-bodied people would not tolerate.

Under the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities, the key aim was to ensure that people with disabilities who are able and want to work are supported and enabled to do so. Much has been written and spoken about equality in the workplace. However, very little has been said about how disabled people face innumerable challenges in getting to and from their place of work. This is just one of the many hidden discriminations that disabled people face.

An able-bodied person is seldom, if ever, asked how he or she will navigate a work journey during a job interview. Therefore, it may be deemed inappropriate to ask a disabled person the same question. Yet, that could be the issue that is on the mind of an employer. It could be that an employer is concerned that a disabled person may be absent from work due to transport circumstances beyond his or her control.

Disabled people who rely on public transport faced countless issues. The first and most obvious is that in Tipperary and across rural Ireland there are limited public transport options available. I am aware of wheelchair users who need to be physically lifted onto buses and trains while their chair is stored away. This could be their dilemma twice a day, which is, in effect, a double assault on their dignity.

While some transport companies have introduced qualification to a number of their vehicles, they argue that the costs are prohibitive and that the changes would only benefit a small number of people. Therefore, a small number of people are cast aside. This is not the only problem faced by disabled people who rely on public transport. Information signs and timetables, if they exist, are usually above the line of vision of a wheelchair user. There is zero access to audio, video or Braille information. Again, a number of people are cast aside.

Disabled people who rely solely on public transport may envy those who drive themselves. A converted car obtained through the mobility grant scheme can be a lifeline and provide a person with independence and greater freedom of movement. Aside from the issues most people are aware of, such as limited parking availability, one of the more recent obstacles facing disabled motorists is electric vehicle charging accessibility, something that has been completely overlooked. At the current time, there are just four wheelchair accessible ESB electrical chargers in this country. The aim is to have a total of 50 multi electric charging sites in place by 2023. That is 50 places overall in Ireland where more than 600,000 disabled people will be able to charge their cars. Yet again, a small number of people are being cast aside. A lack of Government support should not be among the list of reasons disabled people in this country are disadvantaged. Funding is required now to finalise and swiftly introduce a comprehensive and inclusive transport scheme.

Finally, the primary medical certificate needs to be updated and amended as a matter of urgency.

The application of the primary medical certificate is a disgraceful shambles. Through my constituency office in Tipperary I am aware of several people being disallowed access to the scheme. This is appalling treatment of people in genuine need. The rules governing the scheme are outrageously stringent. The current scheme appears to be designed deliberately to reduce the number of successful applications. This question of restricted eligibility, and the obvious curtailment, led to the resignation of the disabled drivers appeals board.

Public transport, by virtue of its name, must be user-friendly for all users. Only then will all people included and none will be left feeling cast aside. I welcome that the Government is not opposing the motion and is accepting its tenor. It is vital the Government follows this with positive action and tangible improvements. The time for talking and speaking about empathy has long passed and it is now time for immediate action.

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