Vol. 498 No. 1
126 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to introduce grant schemes whereby licensed passenger service operators and public transport companies can upgrade their transport facilities to become more accessible to the disabled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26360/98]
As outlined in my Department's statement of strategy, it is my objective to ensure improved accessibility for mobility impaired and disabled people by arranging for the pilot-testing by CIE of low floor buses, and the negotiation of public service contracts with CIE governing the implementation of certain measures to improve the accessibility of public transport services, if the Government decides to provide additional finance for that purpose.
I understand that in the context of its 1999 fleet replacement programme, Dublin Bus plans to purchase 19 fully accessible midi buses, that is, 30-35 seats. This will make a significant increase in the proportion of accessible buses operated by the company. At present, low floor double deck buses are at the trial stage with manufacturers and Bus Átha Cliath hopes to acquire one or two on demonstration in the first half of 1999. Bus Éireann operates a low floor bus on the Bishopstown route in Cork.
Considerable progress has been made in making the railway accessible to people with disabilities. Iarnród Éireann has published an accessibility guide for passengers. Almost all of the approximately 90 mainline stations are accessible by wheelchair users. All of the newer rail passenger carriages, including the DART, are accessible by wheelchair users. The new DART stations at Drumcondra and Clontarf Road and the upgraded Dún Laoghaire station are all fully accessible.
All three CIE companies have established user groups involving representatives of people with disabilities to advise on the inclusion and improvement of facilities for the disabled. The user groups meet regularly and have visited various locations to inspect facilities and potential new equipment, for example, new bus types.
At present, there are no funds at my Department's disposal to assist other licensed transport operators in making their transport facilities more accessible to the disabled.
