Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons Disabilities, CRPD, general comment on Article 9, accessibility, sets out that it is a precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully and equally in society. Without access to transport, among other facilities and services, persons with disabilities do not have equal opportunities to participate in society. The UN committee also notes that the physical inaccessibility of public transport and other facilities is a major factor in the marginalisation and exclusion of children with disabilities and it markedly compromises their access to services, including health and education.

The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport system. As we said, on all new public infrastructure there are accessibility features, such as wheelchair access and audiovisual aids, built in from the design stage. I very much welcome this. However, there are serious issues with older infrastructure and facilities, with progress being much too slow. For the State to align with the CRPD in the transport sector, there is a need to develop a sustainable and universally accessible national public transport system, including 100% of Local Link bus services being wheelchair accessible. There is also a need for annual targets to be developed for the retrofitting of older public transport infrastructure, with a report measuring progress against these targets.

Transport is highlighted in the comprehensive employment strategy, the national disability inclusion strategy and in the CRPD as one of the key services that helps people with disabilities participate in everyday life and obtain employment. It is estimated that by 2026, persons with disabilities will account for roughly 16% of the population. It is crucial that this cohort of Irish society can access public transport and we ensure the needs of an ageing population are met. The report, Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities, produced by the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport in November 2018 emphasised the necessity of having integrated, universally designed public transport services that are accessible to everyone, especially persons with disabilities. The Joint Committee on Disability Matters also highlighted this in our contribution to the draft initial state report under the CRPD.

The accessibility consultative committee set up under the national disability inclusion strategy to monitor progress in making public transport more accessible highlighted that there is little consideration given to the needs of people with disabilities when designing mainstream programmes. It further noted that such programmes can therefore be a missed opportunity at best or, at worst, can further marginalise people with disabilities and increase inequalities.

The National Disability Authority, NDA, made submissions to both the MetroLink and BusConnects public consultations, which highlighted a significant lack of consultation and consideration for persons with disabilities at each step of the proposed project to ensure the final service is universally designed. The NDA also noted in its BusConnects submission concern that the revised BusConnects proposal did not include a number of key points that the NDA had previously advised regarding the different elements of the proposed project. There is no purpose in having consultation with disability groups if their recommendations are not taken on board.

Rural Ireland is particularly badly served in terms of access to public transport in general, but especially for people with disabilities. Disabled people living in rural areas are often highly dependent on family members or taxis for travel, which incurs higher costs. Local Link buses serving smaller towns and villages need to be 100% wheelchair accessible and shuttle services to transport hubs such as existing rail stations need to be extended. There are still towns and villages where those in a wheelchair cannot get onto public transport. Bus Éireann has done considerable work to upgrade its coaches and main stations but there are major questions about bus stops outside the main stations and the slow progress being made in that regard. It must be dramatically accelerated. I welcome the fact that all new public transport infrastructure has accessibility features such as wheelchair access and audiovisual aids built in from the design stage but significant investment is required in respect of older infrastructure and facilities. The progress that has been made in that regard is far too slow.

Deputy Pringle raised the issue of a rail service being extended to Donegal. I would like to include counties Cavan and Monaghan in that because they do not have a rail service. I do not think Fermanagh or Tyrone have one either. That whole area could be linked up very well. There was a rail service to the area at one time and we need one again.

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