Vol. 499 No. 5
35 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the discussions, if any, which have taken place with the Department of Public Enterprise, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann with a view to ensuring that public transport vehicles being purchased in the future will be wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3057/99]
No discussions have taken place between my Department and the Department of Public Enterprise, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann concerning the future purchase of accessible public transport vehicles for people with disabilities. However, arising out of the recently announced allocation, by the Minister for Public Enterprise, for the purchase of 150 buses for the Dublin public transport network and having regard to her special responsibilities for equality and disabilities, the Minister of State at my Department has met with Dublin Bus and representatives of a number of disability organisations regarding the provision of disability accessible buses. I understand that it is the intention of Dublin Bus that all new buses to be purchased as part of its fleet replacement programme from the year 2000 will be accessible to people with disabilities.
