Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:653. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the expenditure on making public transport wheelchair accessible in each of the past five years [45174/15]
View answerTuesday, 15 December 2015
Questions (653)
Written answers
My Department provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) which includes a rolling programme of bus replacement and refurbishment of the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann PSO fleets both in the GDA and nationally.
Wheelchair Accessibility is built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage and new systems such as the Luas are fully accessible. In addition, 100% of the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann city fleets are wheelchair accessible, as well as 65% of the Bus Éireann coach fleet.
My Department also funds an on-going programme of accessibility improvement grants to upgrade existing public transport infrastructure and facilities. The bulk of this funding has been provided for the upgrading of Iarnród Éireann rail stations to make them accessible, and to allow wheelchair users to travel on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann buses. This programme is being managed by the NTA on behalf of my Department.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in the matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.