Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2024
38. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the rules that are in place for airlines using Irish airports to ensure specialised mobility and health aids are carried on aircraft including those which contain batteries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23016/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra39. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport how Dublin Airport and other Irish airports are funded by his Department to support passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23017/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra40. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the value of the contracts issued to Dublin Airport and all other Irish airports funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23018/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra41. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport how often the contract issued to companies to support passengers with reduced mobility and disability is tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23019/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra42. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the measures that are in place by his Department to ensure a quality service is provided at Dublin Airport and all Irish airports by the company contracted to provide support for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23020/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 to 41, inclusive, together.
Irish Airports must comply with European Union Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air (“Regulation 1107”). The objective of this Regulation is to ensure “high and equivalent levels of protection and assistance throughout the Member States and to ensure that economic agents operate under harmonised conditions in a single market.” The Irish Aviation Authority ("IAA”) is the National Enforcement Body for Regulation 1107.
In relation to the issues raised by the Deputy I am informed by the IAA that the position is as follows.
As part of the IAA’s enforcement framework, its Consumer Affairs team conducts inspections of Irish airports to determine compliance with this Regulation. Reports on inspections are published by the IAA on its website www.iaa.ie.
Article 9 of Regulation 1107 requires all Irish airports with annual traffic which exceeds 150,000 commercial passenger movements to set quality standards for the assistance they provide. All airports must publish these quality standards. The IAA, as part of its inspection framework, has reviewed the quality standards published by the airports and can confirm that these documents are all published on the website of the airport concerned.
In respect of the carriage of mobility and health aids, each airline has individual ground handling policies regarding the carriage of baggage and other items. Airlines must also comply with national legislation regarding safety. With regards to Regulation 1107, airlines are obliged to carry, in addition to medical equipment, “up to two pieces of mobility equipment per disabled person or person with reduced mobility, including electric wheelchairs subject to advance warning of 48 hours and to possible limitations of space on board the aircraft, and subject to the application of relevant legislation concerning dangerous goods.” The Regulation further specifies that “where wheelchairs or other mobility equipment or assistive devices are lost or damaged during handling at the airport or during transport on board aircraft, the passenger to whom the equipment belongs should be compensated, in accordance with rules of international, Community and national law.” As part of its inspection process, the IAA ensures Irish airports comply with the above element of Regulation 1107 and that they have a policy in place should mobility equipment become lost or damaged.
In respect of the financing of assistance services, Regulation 1107 provides these can be financed by way of a levy “in such a way as to spread the burden equitably among all passengers using an airport and to avoid disincentives to the carriage of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility. A charge levied on each air carrier using an airport, proportionate to the number of passengers it carries to or from the airport, appears to be the most effective way of funding”.
In Dublin Airport, a levy of €0.74 per passenger applies, which is collected, by daa, through the airlines. The IAA ensures this levy is set in a transparent way, and that it reflects the costs of providing the service. In addition, as part its price cap regulation of Dublin Airport, the IAA sets various quality of service targets which have associated penalties and bonuses. Included in that suite of measures are measures and targets in relation to the provision of service to passengers with reduced mobility and the general satisfaction of those departing using assistance services. There are objective measures set based on the length of time passengers are waiting for assistance and subjective survey-based measures which relate to satisfaction with the additional assistance. These measures also observe the satisfaction with airport facilities (e.g. toilet facilities) provided for passengers who require additional assistance.
My Department’s Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025 supports Ireland’s smallest airports, i.e., those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than one million annual passengers (on average over the two preceding financial years). Airports currently eligible for supports are Ireland West (Knock), Kerry and Donegal. This Programme targets funding at safety and security related activities and operations, assisting these airports to remain compliant with regulatory requirements in these areas. Projects with a sustainable focus are also supported, encouraging airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.
Funding under the Regional Airports Programme is not directly targeted at supporting passengers with reduced mobility and disability. However, in accordance with the Grant Agreements issued by the Department to each airport company, where appropriate, projects funded must be accessible to persons with disabilities. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014, the Department has a positive legal duty to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect the human rights of staff and persons who avail of the services provided. In accordance with this duty, the Department requires that the relevant airport company, in carrying out the activities and operations that are the subject of funding under the Programme, have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect the human rights of staff and persons to whom services are provided.
In respect of the outsourcing of assistance services, Article 8 of Regulation 1107 provides that the airport management body may provide assistance for passengers with reduced mobility itself. Alternatively, the Regulation also stipulates that the airport management body can contract “one or more other parties for the supply of the assistance.” Airport operators must ensure that the provision of services to passengers with reduced mobility meet the standards required under Regulation 1107. This responsibility lies with the airport management body irrespective of whether it provides the services itself or outsources it to a third party. The IAA has oversight of airport management bodies in this regard, as set out above.
Regarding the value and duration of the contracts issued, this is an operational matter for the airports. I have therefore forwarded your question to the Shannon Airport Group and to daa (who has statutory responsibility for the management and operation of Dublin and Cork Airports) for direct reply. If a response is not received within ten days, please contact my private office.
