Vol. 454 No. 7
82 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will consider appointing a person with a disability as a representative of organisations such as the Disability Federation of Ireland to the Interdepartmental Committee on Transport Accessibility, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11390/95]
The committee to which the Deputy refers is essentially a small working group chaired by my Department and comprised of representatives from a number of public sector organisations — the Departments of Health and Equality and Law Reform, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and the National Rehabilitation Board. Consequently, the committee is already in a position to bring a broad range of relevant skills and perspectives, including a keen awareness of user needs, to bear on the task of securing such improvements in accessibility to all modes of public transport as can be implemented within the resources available to public transport providers and other relevant bodies.
I believe that the present composition of the committee is the most appropriate arrangement in the context of that remit and I have no plans to broaden the scope of the representation. Of course, it is open to bodies such as the Disability Federation of Ireland to make their views known to the committee on issues falling within its area of concern.
