Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the direction which has been issued to the NTA and public transport operators regarding mandatory accessibility reporting under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People. [62872/25]

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what direction has been issued to the NTA and public transport operators regarding mandatory accessibility reporting under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People. [62920/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 260 together.

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

From a policy perspective, the Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (NHRSDP) 2025-2030 on 3rd September 2025. Pillar 5 of the strategy, 'Transport and Mobility' contains a number of transport priority actions.

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, for example Irish Rail, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport more accessible.

In line with its statutory remit, the NTA has been assigned both lead responsibility and partner responsibility for a number of the actions under Pillar 5 of the NHRSDP. I can assure the Deputy that the NTA and the other public transport agencies are very conscious of their accessibility obligations to all passengers, including disabled people.

For the information of the Deputy, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is currently co-ordinating the finalisation of the first Programme Plan of Action under the NHRSDP, including those assigned to the NTA, and I understand that it is expected to be published shortly.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is currently on schedule to meet its obligations under the first Programme Plan of Action of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People; and to outline any risks to delivery that have already been identified. [62895/25]

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.

From a policy perspective, I met with members of the disability sector on 29 September 2025 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 (NHRSDP) 2025-2030 on 3rd September 2025. In line with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 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. 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.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is currently co-ordinating the finalisation of the first Programme Plan of Action under the NHRSDP. My Department is the Pillar lead for Pillar 5, Transport and Mobility, which contains actions relating to both 'open' public transport and 'closed' personal mobility transport. As with any whole-of-government action plan, it will be critical that all departments and agencies fully collaborate to deliver on the actions under the NHRSDP.