Irish Wheelchair Association launched a new report, in Leinster House on Tuesday, detailing an ‘inconsistent and chaotic’ approach to disability access in public transportation infrastructure by the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority.

The organisation is calling for national transport accessibility regulations for public transport infrastructure throughout Ireland. A recent survey among Irish Wheelchair Association members found that 77% of respondents said they felt unsafe using public transport infrastructure such as bus stops, crossing cycling lanes or using shared paths with cyclists. Details of the report can be found at  www.iwa.ie/gettingnowhere.

At a presentation given to TDs and Senators in Leinster House the key finding from Irish Wheelchair Association’s ‘Getting Nowhere’ report reveals that Ireland has no mandatory requirements for disability access to public transport infrastructure, despite 22% of people in Ireland living with a disability. The report also details Ireland’s failure to deliver on its 2018 commitments to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, having only delivered on one of four of the necessary steps to ensure accessibility outlined by the convention.

Speaking at the event Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager at IWA said:

“Accessing public transport and public spaces is becoming even harder for people with disabilities. This is despite significant investment by the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority into strategies they claim are “making walking, cycling and wheeling safer and much more accessible throughout the country”. Disabled people have the right to access public services but our ‘Getting Nowhere’ report highlights how the state has been failing to deliver systems to realise those rights, so we have no way of enjoying them.”

The ‘Getting Nowhere’ report outlines research into more than 30 policies, planning and design guidelines, and laws underpinning Ireland’s public transport infrastructure projects. The report found no evidence of any mandatory requirements regarding disability access in public transport infrastructure that meets international standards.

According to Joan Carthy: “Our report couldn’t find evidence of any mandatory accessible regulations but it did find an inconsistent, haphazard approach to public infrastructure and accessibility by the Department of Transport and National Transport Authority. There is ambiguity and flexibility everywhere, making it impossible for any standardised approach to disability access.”

Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager at IWA during the launch by the Irish Wheelchair Association of its new report, ‘Getting Nowhere’ at Leinster House, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Irish Wheelchair Association is calling for National Transport Accessibility Regulations for public transport infrastructure in Ireland that are also negotiated by people with disabilities.

According to Joan Carthy: “Throughout every single stage of design and planning processes by the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority we are missing National Transport Accessibility Regulations that have been negotiated by disabled people.The requirement that public bodies must consult people with disabilities in their projects is insufficient on its own. Disabled people must have a seat at the table and be included in the decision-making process of creating and implementing mandatory accessibility requirements. This has been recognised by the UN and must be embraced by this government.”

**NO FEE PIC** 27/02/2024 Alan Faye who features in the report during the launch by the Irish Wheelchair Association of its new report at Leinster House, Dublin. The report details an ‘inconsistent and chaotic’ approach to disability access in public transportation infrastructure by the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority. The organisation is calling for national transport accessibility regulations for public transport infrastructure throughout Ireland. A recent survey among Irish Wheelchair Association members found that 77% of respondents said they felt unsafe using public transport infrastructure such as bus stops, crossing cycling lanes or using shared paths with cyclists. Details of the report can be found at www.iwa.ie/gettingnowhere. Photo: Gareth Chaney

www.iwa.ie/gettingnowhere

Senator Erin McGreehan Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager at IWA Minister of State Jack Chambers TD during the launch by the Irish Wheelchair Association of its new report, “Getting Nowhere” at Leinster House, Dublin.
Holly Cairns TD, Leader of the Social Democrats, Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager at IWA and Roisin Shortall TD at the launch.
Darren O Rourke TD with IWA advocate Alan Faye at the launch by the Irish Wheelchair Association of its new report.
Senator Erin McGreehan, Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager at IWA, Robert Troy TD, Senator Pauline Tully during the launch by the Irish Wheelchair Association of its new report at Leinster House
Some of the attendance at the launch of IWA’s new report.
Eamon O Cuiv TD during the launch of IWA’s new report, ‘Getting Nowhere’.
Elaine Howley who features in the report during the launch of IWA’s new report ‘Getting Nowhere’.