Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 5 Jun 1998

Vol. 155 No. 19

Public Transport Access for Disabled.

Mrs. Ridge

I put down this matter on the Adjournment on foot of representations, and more particularly, on foot of the report from the Sandymount school on access by the disabled to public transport.

Dublin Bus has purchased 60 new double deck buses and there are three single deck buses on the No. 3 route, which travels to Sandymount and takes in the Rehab centre. The problem is there are not enough suitable buses, only six have been adapted for wheelchair users and there is a lack of funding to purchase more. Dublin Bus say that even the new fleet of double deck buses cannot be accessed because adapting them would cost too much.

I appreciate there are ongoing studies in Great Britain examining how disabled people can access double deck buses so they can use public transport in the same way as those who are not disabled but realistically, this will take a considerable amount of time. In the meantime it is discriminatory that we are only importing single deck buses for disabled use. It is the policy of Dublin Bus to discontinue the use of single deck buses — there are 200 in operation but only six are adapted.

I appreciate that the remit of Dublin Bus is to serve the greater population of Dublin. However, this Government is working towards non-exclusion and this service could be improved. If we cannot allow disabled people access to double deck buses we should try to provide, during the school term, a comprehensive service to specific locations, such as the NRB in Sandymount which disabled students attend regularly. It is frustrating enough to have difficulty accessing a bus in the first place but it is worse to have to wait so long to get a special bus.

Access to adapted buses is workable but not entirely suitable. However, it is difficult for the disabled to use the ticket machine as they cannot reach it to swipe their ticket. There should be consultation with the disabled before these facilities are designed. Transport is important in maintaining a normal lifestyle for those with serious mobility problems.

I appeal for just dues for the disabled and the provision of more low floor single deck buses. If funding is increased we can purchase double deck buses with low floors which the disabled can access and eventually we will arrive at some form of equity. I am not well informed on technical matters but Dublin Bus informed me that none of the new purchases will have disabled access, which is unfortunate. The Minister should translate the lip service paid to the disabled into a meaningful provision.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I compliment Senator Ridge for raising this important and worthy matter. Córas Iompair Éireann receives an annuaI subvention from the Exchequer for the provision of socially necessary services which cannot be provided on a fully commercial basis. The allocation of the subvention to the individual companies — Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann — is currently a matter for the board of CIE. The total subvention for 1998 is £107.205 million and I am advised that of this amount £7 million will be allocated to Bus Átha Cliath by the CIE board.

In determining the level of subvention to be paid to CIE each year, the Government has to find the right balance between a range of competing demands for scarce Exchequer resources. On any grounds the resources made available to CIE each year are substantial. Indeed, the level of commitment shown by successive Governments to CIE is clearly demonstrated by the fact that, over the past ten years, Exchequer funding has amounted to approximately £1 billion.

I can assure this House that the Minister for Public Enterprise is committed to ensuring that, within her area of responsibility, service providers accord a high priority to meeting the requirements of people with disabilities. I should explain, however, that the task of making public transport services accessible to the widest possible range of customers is essentially a matter for transport operators themselves.

I know that the CIE companies are very much aware of the importance of meeting the requirements of people with mobility impairments as part of their overall efforts to improve service quality standards. They are conscious of the need to work towards maximising the accessibility and responsiveness of their facilities and services to customers with disabilities according as suitable opportunities and resources allow.

The Seanad will be aware that, traditionally, vehicles for public transport use were not designed to be accessible by people with disabilities and this is reflected in the type of vehicle generally in use by the CIE bus companies and private transport operators. It is only relatively recently that fully accessible vehicles, such as low floor buses, have become readily available. So far they are only available in a single deck version whereas the mainstay of the Bus Átha Cliath fleet is the double deck bus.

This creates difficulties for Bus Átha Cliath in meeting the needs of mobility impaired people as does the fact that low floor buses are approximately 20 per cent more expensive than similar capacity buses of conventional design. However the company is aware that improving the accessibility of public transport can lead to tangible benefits for a wide range of its customers, including not only those with disabilities but also the elderly and people with young children.

I am glad to say that there have been positive developments recently with regard to the provision of accessible public transport in the CIE group as a whole. In the particular case of Bus Átha Cliath, a number of large capacity, fully accessible, single deck buses of low floor design have been in operation since early this year serving a key cross-city route from Drumcondra to Belfield. I am happy to say that the acquisition of these buses was partly financed by a grant from the Department.

The operation of this service will provide valuable experience for the future development of accessible bus services on other key routes. In addition, the company also provides an accessible minibus service — known as the Omni-link service — on the northside of the city. The Omni-link vehicles were acquired with EU assistance under the Horizon programme and are wheelchair accessible. The buses operate on a new route and the service is provided for the general public and not simply wheelchair users. It is popular with elderly customers and parents with buggies.

More generally I welcome the establishment by the CIE companies of user groups representative of people with disabilities. The input from these groups should give the companies very valuable assistance in their ongoing programmes of improving the suitability of their services for mobility impaired customers.

I should also explain that, at present, an interdepartmental task force, under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is drawing up an action plan for consideration by the Government, based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. It is expected that the outcome of that process and the results of the operation of the low floor buses will provide a basis for determining the extent to which additional transport accessibility initiatives can be undertaken in the years ahead.

I compliment the Senator on raising the matter and I will convey to the Minister the specific matters she raised.

Mrs. Ridge

I thank the Minister and wish to point out that the number of buses is six.

The Seanad adjourned at 1 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 June 1998.