James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline his plans to improve disability access on public transport in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51784/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I'm pleased to say that yesterday I met with members of the disability sector for a constructive dialogue around our shared ambition to ensure 100% transport accessibility in Ireland.

The Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People on 3rd September 2025. In line with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the UN CRPD, the strategy puts great importance on engagement with disabled people. Pillar 5 of the strategy, 'Transport and Mobility' contains a number of transport priority actions, which I am proud to say will be led by my Department, and also align with the new Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan beginning next year and wider Programme for Government commitments.

I believe that only by engaging with those who have lived experience of disability can we truly remove the barriers they face daily. That’s why I really welcomed the opportunity to hear views on transport accessibility and the new strategy’s actions. It was a valuable and rewarding exchange with Disabled Person Organisations, service providers, Disability User Groups, and board representatives from transport operators.

In short, I want disabled people, whether they live in Dublin or rural areas, to have the same ‘access of choice’ transport options as everyone else.

There are two aspects to improving accessibility on the network - addressing legacy infrastructure deficits and then ensuring a universal design approach toward all new infrastructure.

On that first aspect we have increased funding under the accessibility retrofit programme by 67% this year as compared to last and will maintain that increased level of funding under the new NDP. On the second aspect we have an ambitious programme of investment planned for the next five years, all of which will be adhere to the principles of universal design and therefore help deliver a more inclusive transport network in the years ahead.