More needs to be done for disabled people

While it is to be welcomed that significant progress has been made in making transport accessible to disabled people, much still remains to be done to meet their needs.

The National Disability Authority (NDA) report on transport access found that all of Bus Éireann’s urban fleet had low-floor access for the disabled, while 40% of the Dublin Bus fleet had low floors.

However, the report notes that a large part of the existing rail transport network requires substantial investment to make it accessible. It says this is imperative, as it will be some years before accessible long-distance coaches will be introduced. The establishment of the Commission on Taxi Regulation, which will be instrumental in improving access to taxis, is a positive development, too. But, as the NDA points out, the Government must give a firm commitment to continue priority investment in accessible transport infrastructure and the establishment of a single travel information source for people with disabilities. The report also calls on the Department of Transport to ensure that transport legislation, regulation and licensing contain requirements to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.