Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2007
299 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the meetings that have taken place between his Department and any associated Departments in relation to the provision of patient transport in line with responsibilities contained in the sectoral plan for accessible transport under the Disability Act, 2005. [21166/07]
View answerIn my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, there is an emphasis on inclusiveness and, it does not, therefore, make specific provisions for any particular groups of people, such as hospital patients.
However, as part of the expansion of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) to provide increased services and expand coverage, my Department initiated a meeting on 24th May last with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Pobal and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to examine the scope for closer cooperation between the various interests involved in community transport.
At that meeting, it was agreed that the HSE and Pobal would explore the potential for one or more pilot projects involving individual RTP groups and the HSE at local level. The HSE has now proposed a follow-up meeting on the matter for mid-November and I await the outcome of that meeting.
