Vol. 518 No. 4
146 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing campaign (details supplied) on issues of importance to people with disabilities; the assistance if any, he will give in removing the disadvantages and discriminations referred to in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12116/00]
I note from the correspondence supplied that the only issue in which I have a specific function relates to the question of accessibility to public transport for people with disabilities. I propose to confine my answer to this matter.
It is my policy that all transport operators, and in particular State transport companies, should provide the highest possible degree of accessibility within the overall resources available to them.
As already announced in the National Development Plan 2000-06 all new and upgraded rail and bus stations financed under the plan will be accessible to mobility impaired and disabled people; all light rail vehicles and suburban railcars financed under the plan will also be accessible to mobility impaired and disabled people and all buses purchased by CIE from 2000 for use on urban services will be low floor.
All DART carriages are already accessible, as are the diesel railcars used on the suburban services. Iarnród Éireann is taking delivery of a further 26 DART carriages and 20 diesel railcars this year which will also be accessible. Wheelchair space is provided in the dining car areas of other passenger trains and, where advance notice of group travel is received, additional wheelchair space can be created.
Bus Átha Cliath has approximately 30 low floor accessible buses currently in operation with a further 225 such buses on order for delivery this year.
Bus Éireann has 44 low floor accessible buses in operation and a further 66 such buses are on order for delivery later this year. The company is continuing to monitor developments in relation to coach design and manufacture which would improve Bus Éireann's capacity to meet the needs of people with mobility impairments.
