Plans by Bus Eireann to spend €16m euro on a fleet of luxury coaches with no wheelchair access were today branded incredible.

TWO groups that lobby for vulnerable people yesterday called for major reform of the nursing home inspection system.

By Caroline O’Doherty

A HEALTH board yesterday unveiled a blueprint to improve services for disabled people in Cork and Kerry, but has not secured the €45 million needed to implement the plan.

A group representing people with disabilities says developers are ignoring planning laws that require private and public buildings to be accessible to everyone.

The umbrella organisation for disability groups says it plans to create a database of all the people in Ireland with disability.

DISABILITY groups last night urged the Government not to renege on its promise to introduce rights-based legislation for the disabled next November.

The Forum for People With Disabilities has called on the Government to publicly commit itself to rights-based disabilities legislation in advance of the Special Olympics.

The penalty points system must include people who park in disabled spaces, according to the People with Disabilities in Ireland group.

The Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Mary Wallace, is meeting disability groups this afternoon to discuss the proposed re-drafting of the Disabilities Bill.

Representatives of disabilities groups will meet Junior Minister Mary Wallace today to discuss amendments to the controversial Disabilities Bill.