Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on providing fully accessible changing places and toilet facilities open to the public in all buildings which his Department owns and public bodies and agencies under his remit to offer people with disabilities and carers a network of equipped spaces to take care of personal hygiene, in safety and comfort. [38729/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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At present my Department has no offices which are open to the public. Any broadening of access to buildings would need to have regard to a number of relevant considerations, including security issues, to ensure that our staff and the public are safe.

I have referred your question to the agencies under the aegis of my Department for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38747/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an accessible, integrated and sustainable public transport network. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.

As required under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), my Department has in place a disability consultative committee, known as the Accessibility Consultative Committee (ACC). The ACC’s role is to monitor and review progress in relation to the implementation of actions under the NDIS where my Department and/or its agencies, have the lead role. Membership of the ACC is drawn from:

- organisations representing people with disabilities,

- members of the Disability Stakeholders Group (DSG),

- key agencies under the aegis of my Department, and

- other relevant State Agencies.

Further information on the ACC, including the minutes of ACC meetings, and presentations to the ACC can be accessed at the following link:

Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead, Iarnród Éireann and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) each has an Access Officer and a Disability User Group. The User Groups provide a forum for operators to consult with and update disability organisations on accessibility proposals and developments, and for disability organisations to raise operational and other accessibility issues.

In Q1 2022 the NTA set up a Transport User Advisory Group (TUAG) which is made up of 15 members, representing a range of users of public transport and active travel. The TUAG includes three members representing people with disabilities and one member representing elderly people.