Disability and Inclusion

A key theme for the SMP Leadership Group and Delivery Team over Year Three was the importance of accessibility and the need to strengthen the capacity of the transport system to meet its obligations to disabled people as set out under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

‘Advance Notice’ required to book assistance on train services has been reduced, and the new DART+ fleet and the associated station platform works will eliminate the requirement to book assistance for most passengers using the DART+. Over 24% of the taxi fleet is now wheelchair accessible, up from 4% in 2014.

In the active travel space, a National Guidelines and Standards Group oversees and coordinates all design guidelines and standards (including accessibility, cycling and other Active Travel projects) which have been developed by the NTA, TII and Department of Transport, to ensure that active travel infrastructure is rolled out in line with the Universal Design Principles. In addition, the newly revised Cycle Design Manual - as per a commitment under Action 64 of the current SMP Action Plan – is designed with the needs of all potential road users in mind.

Under its headline Goal to “Take a whole of journey approach to mobility, promoting inclusive access for all”, the SMP has overseen increased levels of funding for improving accessibility on public transport. Three aligned approaches are being taken in this regard:

1. Ensuring that all new infrastructure being accessible from the design stage;

2. Retrofitting legacy inaccessible infrastructure; and

3. Providing support measures for disabled people, persons with reduced mobility and older people.

In line with the emphasis placed on accessibility, the SMP Leadership Group dedicated its January 2025 meeting to this theme. Divisional leads and the NTA updated the Group on progress in delivering related SMP actions, as well as the Infrastructure Equality Guidance, which was published in May 2024, while Dublin City Council presented on their approach to consultation with DPROs on the Duke St. and Anne St. public realm project. The Department is also actively working to continuously improve its approach to stakeholder engagement, with the needs of the disabled community prioritised.

Progress has been made too in implementing the Public Transport Accessibility Retrofit Programme. The focus of the Programme is on installing accessible bus stops in rural/ regional areas, retrofitting bus and train stations – lifts, platforms, and accessible bus bays - and increasing the number of taxis that use wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs). Funding for the Retrofit Programme has increased by 67% in 2025 compared to 2024.

While this is an area for continuous improvement, strong progress is being made under the SMP across the various factors that influence the public transport user experience. Our urban bus fleets are now accessible, as are most of the rural bus fleets. The period of