Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to ensure an automatic ramp is on trains to avoid a person using a wheelchair having to call ahead and be assisted with a ramp to board and disembark the train; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33075/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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 integrated, accessible public transport networks and infrastructure. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Irish Rail, who has responsibility for operational issues.

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.

Irish Rail recently announced that the period of 'advance notice' had been reduced from 12 hours to one hour at 15 train stations nationwide. These stations cover almost every terminus station on the network, as well as key interchange points such as Limerick Junction, Mallow and Athlone, and represent nearly 60% of all assistance requests received by Irish Rail.

In light of Irish Rail's responsibility for access to trains for wheelchair users, I have forwarded your question to the company for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.