Services for People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2018

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Ceisteanna (478, 479, 480, 481, 482)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

478. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costings for accessibility works to bus stations nationwide. [26750/18]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

479. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costings for accessibility works to railway stations nationwide. [26751/18]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

480. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costings for the construction of wheelchair accessible bus stops nationwide. [26752/18]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

481. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costings for the replacement of non-wheelchair accessible vehicles for Bus Éireann. [26753/18]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

482. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costings for accessibility works to the train fleet. [26754/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 to 482, inclusive, together.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

Accessibility features, such as wheelchair access and audio/visual aids, are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage. Newer systems such as LUAS are fully accessible.

My Department funds an ongoing programme of accessibility improvement grants to upgrade older existing infrastructure and facilities which is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). In Budget 2018 I secured a trebling of the funding provided for the accessibility retro-fit programme to €28m, as part of the 4 year capital envelope announced.

Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 the NTA has functional responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network, as well as having responsibility for the management of the accessibility retro-fit programme.

During my appearance last February at the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, in relation to the accessibility of public transport for people with disabilities, I undertook to ask the NTA to provide information on (i) the accessibility status of existing public transport infrastructure, (ii) the cost of making public transport services wheelchair accessible and (iii) the accessibility improvements planned with the available funding for the 4 year 2018-2021 under the retro-fit programme. My Office recently forwarded the information received from the NTA to the Clerk to the Committee. For the assistance of the Deputy, I have outlined in the table the cost figures provided by the NTA, of making public transport services wheelchair accessible.

Bus Stations	Buses/Coaches (PSO Services)	Bus Stops (PSO coach services)	Train Stations	Taxis/Hackneys	Total
€16.35 m	€22.5 m	€10 m	€76 m	€214 m	€339 m

I would emphasise that the figures provided by the NTA are estimates, due for example to complexities in relation providing accessible bus stops in rural/regional areas. In addition, the figures relate to Public Service Obligation (PSO) services only, and to Exchequer funding rather than industry costs in the case of Taxi/Hackneys.

Investment in public transport will be accelerated under the National Development Plan (NDP) over the next ten years and beyond to support the development of an integrated, accessible and sustainable national public transport system. A number of key new major public transport programmes are proposed to be delivered under the NDP over the period to 2027 and these will be fully accessible as part of the normal design. In addition, there will be continued investment in the retro-fit programme under the NDP.