Access to transport major worry for disabled

Inability to access public transport is a major issue for 40 per cent of disabled people a survey launched today by the National Disability Authority (NDA) found.

The survey cited reasons such as lack of local transport, difficulties getting to stops and difficulty getting on buses trains and trams were a key factor in hampering social participation for people with disabilities.

It also found that people with disabilities had less access to social gatherings and venues than non-disabled persons. Less than half had gone out for a social occasion in the last week compared to over two-thirds of non-disabled people.

However, the survey did find that the majority of Irish homes meet basic accessibility requirements with two thirds of Irish homes have no steps into them and four out of five have a downstairs toilet.

On a positive note, the survey also found that more than half of disabled respondents described their general health as good, showing that disability and poor health are not synonymous.

The NDA chairwoman Ms Angela Kerins said the €10 million a year allocated in the Budget should be used to improve the accessibility of footpaths, parks, libraries and council offices.

Ms Kerins also called on the private sector to improve accessibility to pubs, cafes, restaurants and cinemas "so that people with disabilities can enjoy a full social life in the community".

The survey was carried out by telephone by TNS/MRBI and examined 809 non-disabled persons and 500 persons with disabilities, living in private households.