Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on providing a subsidy to a Galway City private bus operator for the provision of low floor disabled accessible buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38700/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Sectoral Plan, "Transport for All", drawn up in accordance with the Disability Act 2005 along with the plans of five other Government Departments, was recently approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Plan does not provide for funding of the nature proposed by the Deputy. The Department has had, however, preliminary discussions with the representative bodies of the private bus sector and Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann with a view to agreeing timescales for the full realisation of accessible bus services in respect of commercial bus services. It is intended that as part of the reform of the bus licensing regime, the obligation to operate low floor wheelchair accessible buses will become a statutory requirement. The Department is currently in discussion with operators in this regard.