Foreword by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D.

The Government is committed to creating a society in which all its citizens can participate fully in economic and social life. Accessible transport is a vital component in achieving this.

I have great pleasure in introducing Transport Access for All, my Department's Sectoral Plan for Accessibility in the area of Transport, which has been produced in accordance with the requirements of the Disability Act 2005. This Plan represents a major step forward in making transport in Ireland genuinely accessible. It sets out a series of objectives and targets across all transport modes, designed to ensure that accessible transport will become a reality for all in our society. Delivery will require a great deal of collaborative effort from a number of Government Departments and Government Agencies, transport providers, representatives of people with disabilities and other stakeholders.

The Plan also sets out mechanisms to ensure co-operation between all those involved to ensure an integrated approach to improving public transport accessibility in Ireland.

Like many countries, we have inherited a transport infrastructure which was originally designed without any thought for the needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments. Over the past decade there has been a radical change in regard to accessibility in the transport sector. The first, and perhaps the most important change, was a change in attitude, as it became generally recognised that access to transport is a necessity for all in our society, if people are to participate fully in economic and social life. At the same time, technological and design advances have made transport accessibility genuinely achievable in ways not considered possible before.

Of course, accessibility isn't just about vehicle or infrastructure design. It is also about ensuring that people can find out about what is available, can be confident that the system will meet their needs and that staff are trained to understand those needs. This Plan sets out the progress that is being made towards that goal and the further actions that are needed.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 (NDP), we have brought policy on transport accessibility to a new level. The NDP required that a whole range of new infrastructure and vehicles be accessible and provided specific funding for retrofitting of existing infrastructure, facilities and services. It also led to the establishment of the Public Transport Accessibility Committee (PTAC) to advise my Department on accessibility issues.

In November 2005, the Government launched Transport 21, our ten-year investment programme for transport infrastructure in Ireland. Transport 21 will build on the progress of the NDP in developing the transport infrastructure vital to the economic and social life of Ireland. It will promote accessibility in two ways. First, accessibility will be built into new infrastructural projects from the design stage. Second, funding will be provided to continue the phased modification of existing infrastructure to make it accessible.

This Sectoral Plan aims to build on the developments of the past and, in particular, the major improvements made under the NDP. It comes at a time when truly accessible transport is no longer a vision but a real possibility within our grasp. It will operate in conjunction with the investment programme of Transport 21. It represents a clear commitment, on the basis of a 'Transport for All' approach, to develop accessible, integrated transport services as extensively as possible.

The real challenge for the coming period is the implementation of the Plan and I look forward to its full implementation as a crucial contribution to social and economic inclusion in Ireland.

My Department and I will continue, with your assistance, to work towards that goal.

Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport