Written answer
Disability Services
Progress is being made on rail accessibility, with one-hour notice at 15 stations and automatic sliding doorsteps planned for new DART+ trains.
284. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding engagement he has had with Irish Rail in relation to ensuring that their services are fully accessible for wheelchair users or people with mobility issues. [65181/26]
Comment on this
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
From a policy perspective, I am fully committed to improving accessibility across our public transport system, in line with the Programme for Government and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030. A key part of this is reducing, and ultimately eliminating, the need for Advance Notice for disabled passengers, including on DART services.
I am pleased to state that clear and tangible progress is being made. Last year, Iarnród Éireann reduced the Advance Notice requirement to just one hour at 15 of the busiest stations across the network, covering almost all terminus stations and the majority of assistance requests. Looking ahead, beginning next year, each carriage in the new DART+ fleet will have an automatic sliding doorstep that deploys every time the doors open, significantly reducing the platform gap. This feature should eliminate the need for Advance Notice for most passengers using the new trains.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Iarnród Éireann, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
As queries relating to the accessibility of the rail fleets, including Advance Notice requirements, are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply to him. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days.