Vol. 506 No. 1
44 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when wheelchair accessible buses planned for the Dublin to Cork and Dublin to Limerick routes will be acquired by Bus Éireann; when they will be put in service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14742/99]
It is and always has been my policy that transport operators, and in particular the State transport companies, should provide the highest possible degree of accessibility. I am committed to bringing about a situation where public transport facilities are fully accessible to all at the earliest possible date. The CIE companies are fully aware of my policy in this regard and I am satisfied that they are doing all in their power to achieve this goal.
At present Bus Éireann has one low-floor single deck bus operating on the Bishopstown route in Cork and a wheelchair-accessible school bus operating in Cork city. A further seven accessible buses for Cork city are due to be delivered over the coming weeks.
Galway city has seen three new accessible buses brought into service in recent weeks. Bus Éireann plan to acquire a further 30 accessible buses before the end of 1999, some of which are earmarked for Limerick.
