National Transport Authority, Financial Statements 2011

Údarás Náisiúnta lompair Annual Report & Financial Statements 2011Accessibility ProgrammeThe Department of Transport, Tourism andSport operates an Accessibility Programmealigned with the Department’s Sectoral Plan forAccessibility in the area of transport, which wasdeveloped in accordance with the requirementsof the Disability Act 2005. Under this Programmevarious proposals and projects targeted atensuring access to public transport for all usersincluding the mobility impaired and disabledare progressed.Funding of just under €10 million was providedfor a variety of projects across the transportspectrum and is summarised in Table 9.A substantial part of the Programme focussedon improving accessibility at rail stations.This included installations of lifts, footbridges,signage and platform works.Of particular note under the AccessibilityProgramme was the introduction of a grantscheme for the purchase or modification of avehicle for use as a wheelchair accessible taxi.The objective of this element of the overallprogramme was to increase the number ofwheelchair accessible vehicles available in thetaxi fleet.Smarter Travel Workplaces ProgrammeThe Authority manages and administers theSmarter Travel Workplaces Programme, whichaims to engage with 100 of the largest employersin the State by mid-2012 to promote sustainabletravel choices among their employees.By end 2011, this target was achieved with102 partner organisations, spanning both theprivate and public sectors, engaged with theprogramme.The programme encourages and incentivisesparticipation by the partner organisations indeveloping and implementing workplace travelplans and supports them through a changeprocess offering professional advice, training,resources, networking opportunities and accessto Irish and international best practice. Thepopular cycle and pedometer challenges wereorganised again in 2011 by the Authority as partof the programme. These challenges facilitateTable 9 – Accessibility funding in 2011Agency / Funding ItemFunding (€m)Irish Rail 7.80Bus stop Accessibility – Within Greater Dublin Area 0.91Bus Éireann 0.43Bus stop Accessibility – Outside Greater Dublin Area 0.35Accessible taxi scheme 0.27Dublin Port (Payment made by Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport) 0.15Dublin Bus 0.05Total 9.9618