Vol. 577 No. 5
164 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to ensure that more bus services are made accessible for wheelchair users on routes operated by both Bus Éireann and private coach operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31856/03]
It is my policy that all bus and rail transport operators should provide the highest possible degree of accessibility to the mobility and sensory impaired.
Over the past three years Bus Éireann has pursued a policy of replacing its urban bus fleet with new low floor wheelchair accessible buses. At present the company's entire regular urban fleets in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford are low floor. It also has 20 low-floor wheelchair accessible buses on a number of rural routes and six low floor double deck buses on the Dublin to Ashbourne route. A number of other low floor commuter services are in the pipeline.
Since 1990 all new coaches purchased by the company for inter-city services have a kneeling facility. It allows the front of the coach to be lowered to allow for easier access. However, in common with almost all European operators, all the coaches operated by Bus Éireann on its inter-city routes are not accessible for people in wheelchairs. Accessible coaches for scheduled services are not in commercial production. It is uncertain when such a coach will go into commercial mass production. Bus Éireann will monitor developments. A company official is involved in COST 349. It is an EU funded research programme whose objective is to develop guidance on the construction and design of inter-urban and international coach and bus systems in respect of the needs of people with disabilities. Recently my Department engaged with representative organisations of private bus operators with a view to developing a programme for the roll-out of accessible bus services.
