Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network.

Accessibilty features, such as wheelchair access and audio/visual aids, are built into all new public transport infrastructure 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 our Victorian era railway stations. To address these infrastructural legacy issues, my Department funds the Accessibility Retro-fit Programme which is managed by the NTA. The four year capital envelope for public transport announced in Budget 2018 includes a multi-annual allocation of almost €28m for the Accessibility Retro-fit Programme for the period 2018 to 2021. The allocations for 2020 and 2021 are €7 million and €9.8 million respectively. The €28 million in funding is a trebling of the previous allocation for accessibility under the Capital Plan.

This funding facilitates the continued roll-out of the programmes to progressively make public transport accessible, including the installation of accessible bus stops, the upgrading of train stations to make them accessible to wheelchair users and the provision of grant support for the introduction of more wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) into the taxi fleet.

I would also like to advise the Deputy that the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027, sets out the national vision and ambition for the delivery of key infrastructure over the lifetime of the Plan, including in relation to public transport infrastructure. Investment in public transport will be accelerated under the NDP to support the development of an integrated and sustainable national public transport system. A number of key new major public transport programmes are due to be delivered under the NDP over the period to 2027.

As I expalined above, these programmes, as with all new and recently developed public transport projects, will be fully accessible as part of the normal design. There will also be a continued investment programme under the NDP to fund the retro-fitting of older public transport facilities to enhance accessibility.