Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial supports available from his Department to those who are blind or visually impaired and who require assistance with their transport needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19075/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​My Department does not provide direct financial support to blind or visually impaired people who require assistance with their transport needs. However, I understand that such assistance is provided by other Government Departments, principally the Department of Social Protection. From my Department's perspective, accessibility improvements to public transport services are being advanced in the context of Transport Access for All(my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005) and in the context of the Government's

Transport Access for Allsets out a series of policy objectives and targets for accessible public transport across all modes. The Plan is premised on the principle that through accessibility improvements to the public transport system for people with disabilities, access for all people will be improved. This is being done as extensively as possible having regard to the availability of resources.

Targets in Transport Access for Allare reflected in the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan.Both Plans contain monitoring and evaluation mechanisms which involve representatives of people with disabilities including representatives of people with visual impairments.