West Cork wheelchair bus access
Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony raised the lack of wheelchair-accessible buses from west Cork to Cork city. The Taoiseach said he could not give a date but accepted it was a real issue and would alert the Transport Minister.
As I represent a very rural constituency I have very many questions for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, and thus in essence for the Taoiseach. My question today is about accessibility to public transport. There is no bus from west Cork to Cork city with wheelchair accessibility. I have submitted several parliamentary questions and every time I get the answer that 80% of Bus Éireann's fleet is wheelchair accessible. West Cork, unfortunately, comes under the 20%. When will people who live in west Cork and who have a disability be able to get a bus to Cork city?
Comment on this
I cannot give the Deputy a date but recognise that this is a real issue and a point well made. It is very important that people who have a disability are able to use public transport, which is not always the case. I will certainly advise the Minister, Deputy Ross, that the issue was raised in the Chamber today and perhaps he will be able to give the Deputy a timeline for those improvements to be made.