Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Transport if there is grant aid available to provide wheelchair access to coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11757/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There is currently no grant aid available from my Department to provide wheelchair access to coaches.

Transport Access for All, my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, is addressing the question of accessible long-distance coaches in the light of the COST 349 Report (a major 4-year European research project completed in 2005). That Report made recommendations in respect of accessibility matters for coach-type vehicles.

An increasing number of manufacturers are beginning to put the recommendations into effect on their vehicles and wheelchair accessible coaches that also incorporate features to assist people with other forms of disabilities are only now becoming commercially available.

In keeping with a commitment in Transport Access for All, my Department is giving consideration to how best to assist coach operators to convert to a wheelchair accessible coach fleet in respect of scheduled bus services.