Duncan Smith
Question:
90. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the measures that have been taken to review all bus, rail, and tram infrastructure to ensure transport hubs are adequately resourced and accessible for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2362/23]
View answer
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing an accessible, integrated and sustainable public transport network.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for progressively making transport accessible, including at transport hubs, I have forwarded your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
I am writing to you concerning the matter you raised in Parliamentary Question No. 90 on 19 January last which has been referred to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for reply.
For ease of reference, I have broken the response down into three sections, namely rail, bus stations and tram stops.
Rail:
- The Department of Transport secured €18 Milllion of Lift Replacement Funding for the period 2020-2023. Since 2020, 37 lifts and 2 escalators have been replaced or renovated with 10 further lifts and 2 escalators planned for 2022 in rail stations nationwide.
- To reduce the amount of lift faults caused by vandalism, Irish Rail are installing a video security system on the lifts so that it is monitored and released when someone requests the lift. 43 lifts have this feature installed in them to date with 13 more in 2022. The amount of breakages have significantly reduced.
- Footbridges and lifts were installed at Ennis, Carlow and Edgeworthstown Rail Station in 2021.
- Construction on the installation of Footbridges and Lifts have started at Dalkey and Gormanstown Rail stations and are due to be completed Q1 2023.
- Planning and design works proceeding for Little Island and Banteer Rail Stations which hope to start full construction of footbridges and lifts as well as internal accessibility improvements to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations in 2023.
- There is on-going design for ten other rail station locations presently and planning submitted with Local Authorities for footbridges and lifts as well as compliance with internal accessibility regulations for the rail stations.
- The installation of footbridges and lifts will commence in Little Island and Banteer Rail stations shortly along with internal accessibility upgrades for the rail stations.
- Irish Rail have been working with their Disability User Group to provide signage at their rail stations that allows people to easily locate where they need to go in the rail station. The NTA has provided funding to install these signage improvements in 48 stations to date and with another 38 stations in 2022. It is planned to roll out the same design in the 26 Bus Stations nationwide also in the future.
- The NTA has provided funding to Irish Rail to install Changing Places at Connolly and Heuston Station. It is planned to install additional Changing Place facilities in Sligo and Athlone.
Bus Stations:
- The NTA have been working with Bus Eireann on installing an accessible bus bay in all of their bus stations.
- 16 bus stations have been completed to date: Cavan, Drogheda, Letterkenny, Monaghan, Ballyshannon, Killarney, Sligo, Tralee, Athlone, Ballina, Cork, Rosslare, Tramore, Clonmel, Macroom, Ennis, Waterford, Wexford, Galway and Limerick.
- Four bus stations have started construction: Ennis and Cork are under construction as well Kilkenny and Mullingar Rail stations
- There are 5 stations remaining which will follow after designs are completed: Dundalk, Busarus, Longford, Clonmel and Macroom.
- Bus Eireann have carried out Accessibility Audits on 15 of their bus stations to ensure that they comply with Building Regulations for accessibility. They plan to complete these works over the next 3 to 4 years in 4 lots.
Tram Stops:
- The Tram was built with accessibility in mind, unlike the bus and rail stations which were built many years ago and now need to be retrofitted to make them accessible for all. All of the stops and trams are wheelchair accessible.
- It is planned to install a Changing Place facility at the proposed Interchange Facility at Luas Depot, Red Cow.
I hope that the above information is of assistance.
