Vol. 461 No. 7
281 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the steps, if any, he proposes to take to improve access to public transport for the disabled; the proposals, if any, he has received from the Centre for Independent Living in this regard; his views on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3854/96]
285 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has to ensure that there is a fully accessible public transport system available to disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3723/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 285 together.
I refer the Deputies to my reply to Question No. 43 on 31 January last which deals with the issue of progress towards the goal of a fully accessible public transport system. While it is now the policy that all new railway carriages and stations, together with the proposed light rail vehicles for Dublin, will be wheelchair accessible, it is not yet possible to make a similar commitment in respect of new buses as proposed by the Centre for Independent Living. That organisation has also drawn up proposals for the "Vantastic" scheme to provide a dedicated transport service to cater specifically for the needs of the mobility impaired. I should like to point out that I have no function in relation to specialised transport services of this kind, nor are there any funds at my disposal to support such projects.
