Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 141: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made to ensure that all public transport services and facilities are accessible to people with a disability; the progress made with accessibility over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6440/07]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's Sectoral Plan on Accessible Transport in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act 2005, 'Transport Access for All' addresses the accessibility needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments across all transport modes and contains time bound targets for the progressive realisation of accessible transport in Ireland.

A number of measures to achieve the implementation of 'Transport Access for All' have already been put in place, including the provision of funding under Transport 21 and the extension of the remit of the Public Transport Accessibility Committee (PTAC) to incorporate a monitoring role.

Since the year 2000 good progress has been made across a number of fronts. For example, all new buses purchased by the CIE companies for urban services are now low floor and wheelchair accessible. Similarly in the rail sector all new rail rolling stock is specified to full accessibility standards. Good progress has also been made by Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann in upgrading their respective stations to cater for the needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments. This work is continuing. Also, Luas has been designed from the outset to be a fully accessible system and the proposed new Luas and Metro services will incorporate the most up-to-date accessibility provisions.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation is also advancing measures to aid people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments. Each of the CIE operating companies, the Dublin Airport Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency/Veolia Transport have established disability users groups to advise them on accessibility matters at the company level.

My Department's Sectoral Plan contains a number of provisions to facilitate the monitoring of progress on its implementation. These include the incorporation of progress reports in the Department's annual reports as well as participation in interdepartmental co-ordinating and monitoring structures for the National Disability Strategy. In addition, each agency under the aegis of my Department is required to provide in their annual reports a progress report on the implementation of the relevant sections of the Sectoral Plan.