Vol. 509 No. 5
97 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise further to her meeting earlier in 1999 with the Transport for All Group, the progress, if any, she has made in establishing a disability transport unit in each of the public transport companies operating in the State to ensure that policies and practices are disabled transport proofed to provide proper access for disabled persons; and the other initiatives, if any, she is taking in this area. [20988/99]
Following the meeting referred to I wrote to the Chairman of CIE and I am informed that the steps taken by each of the three CIE subsidiary companies to date are as follows: Iarnrod Éireann has established a disability users group which comprises regular rail users, members of the Irish Wheelchair Association, all of whom have a mobility impairment. It has appointed a mobility impaired liaison officer, who co-ordinates the implementation of policy as well as offering assistance to both individuals and groups travelling, and offers assistance on the design of stations and rolling stock. The mobility impaired liaison officer is in regular contact with groups who represent mobility impaired people, for example, National Rehabilitation Board, National Council for the Blind of Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association, and the Irish Council for People with Disabilities. It has a guide for mobility impaired customers which gives information on accessible facilities in stations and a guide for Iarnrod Éireann staff on how to assist customers who have a mobility impairment – the latter has been posted out to each individual member of staff. Both guides were written with the assistance of the disability users group.
Dublin Bus has established a three person group, headed by the business development manager, to deal with accessibility issues. A people with disability Dublin Bus consultative group has also been established which includes representatives of a broad range of accessibility interests.
Bus Éireann has established a consultative group for people with disabilities, which comprises of representatives of a number of local networks of the Irish Council for People with Disabilities, and senior Bus Éireann management. Since 1990, all new coaches purchased by the company have been specified with a kneeling facility which allows the front of the coach to be lowered to allow for easier access. Developments in relation to coach design and manufacture which would improve Bus Éireann's capacity to meet the needs of people with mobility impairments will continue to be monitored.
