Vol. 519 No. 4
59 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of buses acquired in the past three years by Dublin Bus which are accessible to persons with a disability; and the number of proposed acquisitions over the next three years which will be accessible. [13958/00]
I am informed by Bus Átha Cliath that approximately 30 low floor buses, which are accessible to disabled or mobility impaired people, are in operation on its network. The company has purchased 25 of these over the past three years while the remainder are on trial. The bulk of the costs of purchasing these buses has been funded by the Exchequer.
As already announced in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, all buses purchased by CIE from this year onwards for use on urban services will be low floor. Under the plan a further 225 accessible buses are due for delivery to Bus Átha Cliath this year. These will be delivered from August onwards.
It is my policy that all transport operators, and in particular State transport companies, should provide the highest possible degree of accessibility to disabled or mobility impaired people within the overall resources available to them.
