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Public Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Questions (27)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

27. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his officials have costed the implementation of a programme making all public transport fully accessible for persons with disabilities in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10481/19]

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Written answers

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to- day operations of public transport.

Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network. 

Accessibility features, such as wheelchair access and audio/visual aids, are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage. Newer systems such as LUAS are fully accessible.

The National Development Plan (NDP) for the period 2018-2027, sets out the national vision and ambition for the delivery of key critical infrastructure over the next 10 years, including in relation to public transport infrastructure.  Investment in public transport will be accelerated under the NDP to support the development of an integrated and sustainable national public transport system.  A number of key new major public transport programmes are being considered under the NDP over the period to 2027.

As with all new and recently developed public transport projects, these programmes will be fully accessible as part of the normal design. There will also be a continued investment programme under the NDP to fund retro-fitting of older existing public transport facilities to enhance accessibility.

However, work remains to be done in terms of the retro-fitting of older infrastructure to make it accessible for people with a disability. In particular, gaps remain in relation to railway infrastructure and facilities as most of the rail network was originally developed during the Victorian era.

To address infrastructural legacy issues, my Department funds a programme of accessibility improvement grants, managed by the NTA, to upgrade existing and older infrastructure and facilities, such as

- the installation of accessible bus stops,

- upgrading train stations to make them accessible to wheelchair users, and

- providing grant support for the introduction of more wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) into the taxi fleet.

Last year I asked the NTA to provide information on the cost of making public transport services wheelchair accessible.

The information provided by the NTA, and other related information, is available on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.gov.ie/public-transport/english/accessibility. For the assistance of the Deputy, I have outlined in the table the cost figures provided by the NTA, of making public transport services wheelchair accessible.

Bus Stations

Bus/Coaches

PSO Services

Bus Stops

PSO Coach Services

Train Stations

Taxis/Hackneys

TOTAL

€16.35 m

€22.5 m

€10 m

€76 m

€214 m

€339 m

 I would emphasise that the figures provided by the NTA are estimates, due for example to complexities in relation to providing accessible bus stops in rural/regional areas. In addition, the figures relate to Public Service Obligation (PSO) services only, and to Exchequer funding rather than industry costs in the case of Taxi/Hackneys.

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