A LACK of adequate public transport is a major factor behind social exclusion, particularly in rural areas, according to a report published today.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) report says transport support schemes are critical in combating social exclusion and enabling people access social and health services.
“For many people such schemes are the key to accessing services, and make a significant contribution to enabling them participate in society,” it says.
Entitled Getting There: Transport and Access to Social Services, the report is published today by Minister for Social Affairs Mary Hanafin.
It argues that publicly-funded transport schemes are not meeting the needs of a significant proportion of vulnerable people.
Among the issues identified are:
- A lack of public transport in rural areas and the consequent inability of people to avail of "free travel";
- Limitations of the current transport and mobility support schemes;
- In many instances people on already low incomes are stretched to the limit when they have to travel long distances but have no public transport service to make the journey;
- Difficulties getting transport to and from hospital services;
- The lack of options for people with disabilities, who regularly have no option other than to use and pay for taxis;
- The impact of these gaps on people being effectively unable to take up employment and educational opportunities.
The report, based mainly on feedback from the network of CIB offices throughout the State, also highlights the fragmented nature of numerous transport supports and services. Tony McQuinn, CIB chief executive, said the report underlined the importance of building a transport service based around the “needs of the public rather than a multiplicity of parallel and fragmented support initiatives, frequently operating independently of one another, that lose sight of the needs of the end-user”.
Among its recommendations are that there should be more options than a free travel pass for those who are entitled to it.
“For example, there could be a corresponding cash payment for those people who are unable to use the pass because of the inaccessibility of transport.
“Alternatively, vouchers could be made available for use in taxis, hackney cars, community bus schemes and private buses”.
It also calls on each HSE area to review its ambulance transport policies for older people in rural areas.
