Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Transport to ensure that all public transport services are wheelchair-accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43588/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Transport is a key issue for persons with disabilities and as such it is a priority consideration. Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in March 2018, which clearly articulates that all State parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis to others, to transportation.

In line with the principle of mainstream-first service delivery, it is incumbent upon all public bodies to execute their functions with proper regard for people with disabilities and Ireland’s obligations under the UNCRPD.

My Department has a particular role as "focal point" and "coordinating mechanism" across government for the implementation of the UNCRPD. My officials have therefore been engaging across government on disability issues, including detailed and frequent engagement with colleagues in the Department of Transport on matters related to transport accessibility, and I am aware that accessible public transport is the subject of dedicated work.

My officials are engaging at a senior level with colleagues across government to map out next steps towards the development of the next National Disability Strategy. This Strategy will provide an ambitious framework for disability policy across the next five years, including in relation to transport and mobility for disabled people. The new Strategy will build on work done under Action 104 of the previous National Disability Inclusion Strategy. Under Action 104, a Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to formulate proposals on how transport supports could be better coordinated across the state. The Final Report of the Group was published and is available on my Department’s website.

The Department of the Taoiseach has convened a Senior Officials Group to discuss how the proposals of the NDIS TWG final report can be progressed. My officials are engaging and actively contributing to discussions on this matter, and outcomes will form a key part of ongoing work for the development of transport-focussed actions under the next National Disability Strategy.