Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make public transport more accessible for people with autism. [17667/26]

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.

In light of my role, one of my core priorities is to ensure disabled people have the same ‘access of choice’ transport options as everyone else. Also from a policy perspective, the Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (NHRSDP) 2025-2030 on 03 September 2025. Pillar 5 of the NHRSDP, 'Transport and Mobility', contains a number of priority transport actions which were developed with representatives of the disability community. In line with the agreed NHRSDP structures, these priority actions are the primary focus for all NHRSDP stakeholders this year. My Department will be chairing the first meeting of the Pillar 5 Monitoring Group, which includes representatives from Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), later this month.

The NHRSDP incorporates and supports delivery of the Autism Innovation Strategy which is being delivered in parallel to the First Programme Plan of Actions 2025-2026 under the NHRSDP.

There are three aspects to improving transport accessibility, including eliminating Advance Notice, namely ensuring a universal design approach towards new infrastructure, addressing legacy infrastructure deficits and providing supports for independent travel on the networks.

From a funding perspective, 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 accessible and inclusive transport network in the years ahead. Ireland is undergoing the most significant public transport transformation in decades, driven by BusConnects, DART+ expansion, fleet electrification, Luas and active travel integration. For example, in 2026 the NTA will oversee the construction of two BusConnects Dublin Core Bus Corridors. The first, Liffey Valley to City Centre entered the construction phase in 2025, while the second, Ballymun-Finglas to City Centre, will enter construction later this year.

In addition to new infrastructure, I am pleased that I have been able to increase funding under the Public Transport Accessibility Retrofit Programme to €25m in 2026. We will maintain that increased level of retrofit funding under the new National Development Plan which includes accessibility enhancements to bus and train stations in rural and regional locations.