Legislation to enhance access to public services and transport for people with disabilities will be published today by the Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms Mary Wallace.
The Disability Bill will be introduced in the Dβil in February and the Government hopes to pass it before the general election.
It includes deadlines for removing barriers to complete access to buses, taxis and trains; enhancing access to public services and buildings; putting needs assessment on a formalised footing; and expanding the role of the Ombudsman.
Organisations representing the disabled have welcomed elements of the legislation but expressed disappointment at the timescales.
Buses will have to be completely accessible by 2010, as will taxis, while all trains will have to be accessible by 2015. Assessment of needs and the follow through on this will be put on a formalised basis by 2003. Advocacy Services will be established through the information agency Comhairle by 2006, while the 3 per cent target for employment in the public sector will put on a statutory basis in 2003. It is currently 1.9 per cent.
The Minister also pointed to the moratorium on genetic testing for commercial reasons, from 2003 until 2009. Ms Wallace said that if a person has Huntington's disease, their family members have to be tested for the disease before they get insurance. This will stop that practice.
Groups representing the disabled were particularly critical of the timeframes.
"Some areas will not be in place until 2010 or 2020 in some cases," said Mr Donal Toolan of the Forum of People with Disabilities. "Taxis, for example, are all to be accessible by 2010, but this completely contradicts the de-regulation of the taxi industry which suggested that all taxis would be accessible by 2003," he added.
