Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to vindicate the rights of persons with disabilities using public transport in view of the imminent ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7515/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Government announced last month its decision to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).

Article 4.2 of the Convention provides for the progressive realisation of accessibility rights which would include practical progress on public transport accessibility.This is broadly the approach adopted in Ireland in relation to public transport.

Accessibility features, such as wheelchair access and audio/visual aids, are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage. Newer systems such as LUAS are fully accessible. However, there are legacy issues in relation to older infrastructure and facilities, for example Victorian era railway infrastructure. Significant investment has and will continue to be made to fund retro-fitting of older existing public transport facilities to enhance accessibility

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions (Ref no. 7715/18) and (Ref no. 7630/18) earlier today.