Vol. 534 No. 3
97 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her policy regarding semi-State bodies and the disabled; and if she has satisfied herself with the experience of a person (details supplied) who is deaf, who was refused a booking by a CIE overseas tour to Canada, due to a disability and her belief that it was not possible to include her because extra resources would be necessary. [10610/01]
It is my policy that all transport operators, and in particular the State transport companies, should provide the highest possible degree of accessibility to disabled or mobility impaired people within the overall resources available to them.
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 all major refurbishment projects at bus and rail stations, together with purchases of trains and buses will take account of the needs of mobility impaired customers. Specifically, all new and upgraded rail and bus stations financed under the plan will be made accessible to mobility impaired and disabled people; all light rail vehicles, including LUAS, and suburban railcars financed under the plan will also be accessible to mobility impaired and disabled people; all buses purchased by CIE from 2000 for use on urban services will be low floor.
All three of the CIE operating companies – Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann – have established disability users groups to advise them on accessibility issues. Up to now, low floor wheelchair accessible buses have been acquired exclusively for urban services. However, I am happy that Bus Éireann has now purchased low floor wheelchair accessible buses for use on a trial basis on rural services. The results of the trials will then be used as a basis for determining future purchases.
I established the Public Transport Accessibility Committee in July 2000. The committee is composed of representatives of organisations representing the elderly, the disabled and mobility impaired, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and the Light Rail Project Office. It will advise me on public transport accessibility in general and, where appropriate, make recommendations for prioritised, cost effective measures to address these issues.
I have no function in relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy. This is a day to day matter for CIE Tours International.
Aer Lingus operates the following procedures to accommodate persons with disabilities: aircraft specifications require that a certain number of seats are accessible for wheelchair passengers; provision is made for the carriage of wheelchairs; toilets on long range aircraft are wheelchair accessible; special wheelchairs are made available to conform with aisle widths on aeroplanes; passengers unable to walk are transferred to aircraft by paramedics.
With regard to Aer Rianta, it is the company's policy to ensure that the design and provision of facilities at the three State airports are user friendly and accessible to all, including persons with disabilities.
