Máirín Quill
Ceist:9 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when wheelchair-accessible buses will be introduced to Cork. [10024/95]
Written Answers. - Wheelchair Accessible Buses.
Liz O'Donnell
Ceist:34 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the proposals, if any, there are to introduce wheelchair-accessible buses outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11382/95]
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:41 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the proportion of Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann vehicles complying with the specifications of the United Kingdom's Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; the plans, if any, he has for increasing that proportion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11443/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 34 and 41 together.
The issues raised by the Deputies are matters for the boards and management of Córas Iompair Éireann, Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath.
I have been advised that while Bus Éireann is fully aware of the desire on the part of people with disabilities for the introduction of fully accessible buses, the company considers it would be difficult to justify the costs associated with such a venture. Road conditions in some areas are also seen as a limiting factor. For these reasons I understand that Bus Éireann has no immediate plans to introduce wheelchair accessible buses in Cork or elsewhere on its service network.
Both Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath are conscious of the need to achieve the maximum degree of accessibility while operating a cost-effective public transport system. In this regard, approximately 50 per cent of the Bus Átha Cliath fleet is designed to the recommendations of the UK advisory committee mentioned by the Deputy. The proportion of user-friendly vehicles will automatically rise as the company's fleet is renewed. Similarly, the corresponding Bus Éireann figure, just over 12 per cent of the urban fleet at present, will increase with the acquisition of new vehicles, all of which will comply with the recommendations in question. While these recommendations do not apply to vehicles operating long distance services, I understand that Bus Éireann's coaches achieve a high standard of accessibility. For example, 60 per cent of the fleet now incorporates a facility whereby the front of the coach may be lowered to facilitate access.
I have asked that the two CIE bus companies, as a matter of policy, will continue to accord high priority to affordable accessability improvements in their fleet replacement programmes.