Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of the Bus Éireann fleet serving the midlands area that are wheelchair accessible and are capable of facilitating people with disabilities who wish to travel by such transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8994/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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 over time. I recently announced that Exchequer funding of up to €50 million would be provided for up to 160 new buses for Bus Éireann in the period commencing 2007 for non-commercial services outside of Dublin, all of which will be wheelchair accessible. I should add that Bus Éireann has advised me that currently 2 of their 3 buses providing town services in Athlone are low floor wheelchair accessible.

While there is significant progress in the development and provision of accessible buses for urban and commuter type services, the production of wheelchair accessible coaches for intercity services is at an early stage across Europe and coaches of this type are only now becoming available.

The approach being taken to the provision of wheelchair accessible coaches is outlined in 'Transport Access for All, my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library.