Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2018
38. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for budget 2019 in respect of disability access improvements at train stations and bus stops nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37885/18]
View answerAs part of the Capital Plan Review announced in conjunction with Budget 2018, I secured an allocation of almost €28 million for the accessibility retro-fit programme for the four year period 2018 - 2021. This represented a trebling of the previous allocation. Of this amount €7 million is allocated for 2019.
The retro-fit programme funds an ongoing programme of accessibility improvements to older existing public transport infrastructure and facilities, and it is managed by the National Transport Authority. Accessibility features, such as wheelchair access, are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage.
The increase in funding for the retro-fit programme will facilitate the continued roll-out of the programmes to install accessible bus stops, upgrade train stations to make them accessible to wheelchair users and provide grant support for the introduction of more wheelchair accessible vehicles into the taxi fleet.
I intend to improve upon that under the National Development Plan (NDP) over the next ten years and beyond. Investment in public transport will be accelerated under the NDP to support the development of an integrated, accessible and sustainable national public transport system. A number of key new major public transport programmes are proposed to be delivered under the NDP over the period to 2027 and these will be fully accessible as part of the normal design. In addition, there will be continued investment in the retro-fit programme under the NDP.
