Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018
293. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to introduce minimum standards for wheelchairs used on public transport; and her further plans to introduce a wheelchair passport scheme similar to that in the UK. [53775/18]
View answerThe National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) develops standards for products and services upon request of industry, regulators or policy makers. Indigenous standards may be promulgated where no existing international or European standards have been adopted or proposed.
Section 8 of the National Disability Authority Act 1999 provides that the National Disability Authority (NDA), which is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has a role in advising the Minister on appropriate standards for programmes and services for persons with disabilities. This extends to the development of guidelines in the area of accessibility to public transport.
NSAI works closely with the National Disability Authority (NDA) and other disability interest groups on matters of international standardisation to support policy on accessibility. NSAI has informed me that there is currently no request from Irish stakeholders to work specifically on the topic of minimum standards for wheelchairs used in public transport in Ireland or a wheelchair passport.
The NDA has published Recommended Accessibility Guidelines for Public Transport Operators. In light of its policy remit in this area, it would be a matter for the NDA to consider the benefits of introducing minimum standards for wheelchairs used on public transport and a passport system for wheelchair users, and to make recommendations on those issues as appropriate.
