Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to whether all Bus Éireann bus stations are fully accessible to people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16881/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Significant investment has been made to date by Bus Éireann in upgrading bus stations to make them fully accessible for people with mobility and sensory impairments. I understand that, with the exception of Limerick and Galway, all of Bus Éireann's bus stations will have been brought up to accessibility standards by the end of 2006. Preparatory work on a major joint bus/rail station development in Limerick is well advanced and completion is expected by 2008. Galway will also entail a bus/rail station development. However, as this project will form part of a wider redevelopment project in Galway, a date for completion is not currently available.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Transport if all inter-city and DART trains are wheelchair accessible; if not, when same will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16882/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Significant investment has been made to date under the National Development Plan (2000-2006) in acquiring new rolling stock for Iarnród Éireann. All of the public transport vehicles purchased under the NDP for the services by the company have been specified to full accessible standards. I understand that allowing for the completion of refurbishment work to some older DART (electric) carriages, all DART carriages on the Dublin suburban rail network will be accessible by mid 2007. The diesel railcars on suburban rail serving Dublin and Cork are already accessible. Additionally, Iarnród Éireann is in the process of replacing the vast bulk of its Inter-City passenger rolling stock. All of this rolling stock is being specified to UK Rail Vehicle Accessibility Standards. I am informed that practically all inter-urban passenger rail services will have accessible rolling stock by 2009.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Transport if all Bus Éireann buses are wheelchair accessible; if not, the percentage which are; when the full fleet will be accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16883/06]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Transport if the additional buses on order for Bus Éireann will be wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17440/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 282 together.

Significant progress has been made in recent years in the introduction of wheelchair accessible buses to the Bus Éireann fleet. Since the year 2000, all buses purchased by the company for urban services are low floor, wheelchair accessible. That purchasing policy will continue as the bus fleet is replaced and expanded. Bus Éireann has already achieved almost 100% fleet conversion to low floor, wheelchair accessible buses on its urban services in the cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The company also has a number of low floor, wheelchair accessible buses operating on a number of rural routes and on some commuter routes that were previously served by coaches.

In other urban areas currently served with smaller buses, some are wheelchair accessible, and it is Bus Éireann's policy to replace those vehicles with wheelchair accessible buses. Bus Éireann advise that almost all existing designs of coaches for scheduled inter-urban services make them inaccessible for people in wheelchairs and others with severe disabilities because they incorporate steps to allow for under floor luggage space. I am told by the Company that this problem is not unique to Ireland and European-wide efforts are underway to address the difficulty. Bus Éireann also advises that field trials by large UK bus operators of the limited types of coaches with accessibility features that are currently available on the bus market have highlighted significant shortcomings for passengers with and without disabilities and for the bus operators.

An EU-sponsored report (COST 349), issued in late-2005, provides guidance on solutions for accessible coach and long distance bus travel. In addition, more developed wheelchair accessible coaches, that may be suitable for scheduled services, are expected to begin in-service trials with a limited number of operators in the UK this Summer. We now need to explore further options. I have asked Bus Éireann to explore the scope for acquiring wheelchair accessible coaches of the type planned for trials in the UK, for in-service trials in Ireland and to give me a report in the matter before any orders are placed. In that respect, the company is consulting with the National Disability Authority. I await a response from the company.