Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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585. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of the Dublin Bus fleet now accessible by wheelchair users; the planned timeline to have 100% accessibility; the funding set aside for this; the routes that currently do not have 100% accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2583/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Accessibility improvements to public transport services are being advanced in the context of my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, Transport Access for All. The plan sets out a series of policy objectives and targets for accessible public transport across all modes and significant progress has been achieved in recent years.

Measures to provide for full accessibility are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage. In this context my Department provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a rolling programme of bus replacement and refurbishment of the Dublin Bus fleet.  This has enabled 100% of the Dublin Bus fleet to be wheelchair accessible. In addition all Dublin Bus stops are fully accessible as they can be served by a wheelchair ramp with kneeling suspension on the bus. i.e. adjustable suspension that enables the bus to be lowered to the kerb.