The DART network, which is a wonderful asset in Dublin's infrastructure for the people of Dublin and one we cherish, moves many people each day. I welcome the moves by the new Minister to reassess the underground option for an extension of that network and to avoid what looked like disastrous damage to the centre city area if we proceeded with the original plans. One of the most intense, frustrating and long-running causes of annoyance for people in my constituency, particularly people with a disability and parents of young children, is the total lack of provision on the DART network for people with a disability and mothers and fathers with buggies and children. There has been no provision in that area over the past 10 or twelve years. I have had many complaints from the Centre for Independent Living and other organisations who serve people with disabilities. The DART network on the north side of the city runs through most of my constituency from Clontarf, through Raheny, Kilbarrack, Howth Junction, Sutton and Howth. There are ungainly steps and gates, making access extremely difficult for active working people who happen also to be disabled.
Recently major new funding has come through the Structural Funds to provide extra resources. A new station is being built at Fairview, there is the promise of an extension to Malahide, and most of the stations in my constituency are receiving a major refurbishment, including the awful Kilbarrack Station. A significant amount of money, £80,000, is being spent on Bayside. However, outrageously, not one penny is provided for facilities to enable people with a disability to easily use the DART network. A few months ago the Minister at the time, Deputy Dukes, came to my constituency and announced the provision of £80,000 for Bayside, but he was not prepared under any circumstances, even coming up to the general election, to meet the fair requests of parents and people with disabilities for the sort of facilities that are needed. The only station on the network which has a viable plan to involve our disabled fellow citizens is Kilbarrack. In that instance most of the basic planning was done by Dublin Corporation, the local DART Action Group and Iarnród Éireann. There is extreme frustration in my constituency about this.
Until a few weeks ago we had a Department of Equality and Law Reform which is now sadly gone, perhaps a sinister move by the incoming Government. I am aware this area has been incorporated in the Department of Justice. The new Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform said this evening he would carry on the vigorous approach of the former Minister, Mr. Mervyn Taylor. However, as a recent report of the Department showed, the achievements of Mervyn Taylor in the Department of Equality and Law Reform over the past four and a half years under two different Governments were tremendous. I fear this new Government is not prepared to sustain that effort and to show, in practice, that all citizens are equal.
There was a major commission on services for people with a physical disability about a year ago, but no attempt was made by the outgoing Government, nor has any attempt been made by the incoming Government, to provide the resources necessary in that area. It is obvious that a disabled worker approaching one of the stations in my constituency could easily be frustrated by having to get the help of friends and neighbours not just to get into the station but to get on and off the train. If we are serious about equality, we should ensure that those citizens have access to exactly the same facilities as everybody else.
I welcome the funding for the extension of the DART line and commend the Minister on her courage in being prepared to re-examine the plans for the extensions which are urgently necessary in the south, south-west and north-west of our city. However, it is incumbent on the Minister to provide whatever funding is necessary to give full equality to our fellow citizens in Dublin city who have a disability and to parents of young children.
