Results 2,081-2,100 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: It is at proposal stage, but it is basically not a physical location.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes. We will inform the new manager tomorrow and ask for the Deputy's request to be put on its agenda.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: It is not satisfactory yet, but a fair amount of improvement has been made. Beginning this year, the NTA is introducing new low-floor coaches on regional commuter bus routes that will facilitate wheelchair access on to these services without pre-booking after sufficient vehicles have been introduced into the service. Progress is being made on that. There are more than two or three ways of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes. I have given some details of some of the stations, but only one of them was of any great interest to the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is very broad-minded.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: She is a national politician.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I was throwing plaudits at the Deputy. That is very ungracious.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I agree with much of Senator Dolan's contribution and it is particularly telling that he said transport is a daily grind for people with disabilities. It is a very fair point and we should bear in mind the obstacles and difficulties that disabled people have to endure. They can be difficult to relate to unless they are repeated again and again, ensuring that the people who make decisions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I understand what the Senator is saying, but the evidence we have seen is that progress is being made in the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee. It is mainly up to the NTA, but on the whole I see real progress. Deputy Catherine Murphy has been good enough to say things are better now than they were 20 years ago. Many of us were probably slow to realise the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I will take up the matter with the Department of Justice and Equality to see what happens. Is it that Department's responsibility?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I will ask what the position is. If it is behind, it is not right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: That is not right. It should not be behind. I will find out why.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: However, it is a little behind. One of the big holes is that private sector operators do not have to meet the same criteria. That is being acted on and there is to be a public consultation process. The NTA is examining the matter, with a view to coming back with proposals. It is unacceptable that the private sector is operating in a regime that is cavalier.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: That is my view. It is a cavalier attitude. I know that there are difficulties, but it is not acceptable. However, there is movement. The public service obligation, PSO, buses which are serviced by the private sector are accessible, but the others are not. The NTA is moving towards a public consultation process on the matter, with a view to coming forward with proposals which will go...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Can the Senator repeat that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: All those questions are pretty detailed so if the Senator will allow it, I will revert to him. I will get the answers to the questions. I do not know about the €5 charge, I will check up with Irish Rail about that and the priority seating issue to see how that is happening. On powered wheelchairs, the NTA says it is arranging an inspection of one of these single-deck bus types in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: The Oireachtas disability group will be an ongoing engagement and it will be a useful group because it maintains awareness and is held at a high level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: The Secretaries General of all Departments attended, which is a high level. It included the Secretary General of my Department and that will continue and we will encourage it. I thank the Senator for his remarks about the board. They are a conscience and a reminder. From what I have heard, it is working and it would be useful if other Departments followed this example. It is something...