Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts his Department is undertaking to increase the accessibility of public transport for people with disabilities and addressing the issue of hidden booking costs associated with the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22869/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

From a policy perspective, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of An Taoiseach has established a unit within its Department which will focus on disability, reflecting a commitment in the Programme for Government to a step change in supports and services required by disabled people. In my role as Minister for Transport, I will be engaging with that unit with an emphasis on addressing the wider issues such as ensuring that all public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers.

Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of integrated, accessible public transport networks and infrastructure. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, who have responsibility for day to day operational issues, to progressively make public transport more accessible. This means that neither myself nor my Department are involved in the scheduling, management or operations of public transport services.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities, I have referred the part of your question regarding increasing the accessibility of public transport for disabled people to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply from the NTA within ten working days.

My colleague the Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for the Free Travel Scheme. While the Deputy has not specified which public transport services they are referring to, I have referred your question to both Bus Éireann and Irish Rail for direct reply to you in relation to any booking fees for Free Travel Pass holders. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply from either company within ten working days.