Bus Éireann has described as "productive" a meeting today with the National Disability Authority in relation to the accessibility of the company's buses for people with disabilities.
Representatives of the National Disability Authority met the company to discuss the revelation this week that it planned to spend €16 million on buses that are not wheelchair-accessible.
A Bus Éireann spokeswoman told The Irish Timeslast night it was in talks with manufacturers Scania to determine if wheelchair accessible versions could be included in last autumn's order for 60 coaches.
If this were possible, it would bring these into operation on a trial basis she said. The firm was also talking to other manufacturers.
Today, the spokeswoman told ireland.comthe meeting with the NDA had finished and was "productive".
However, she would not put a timeframe on the introduction of new accessible buses or provide details on whether the proposed order of new buses would be changed to include some.
"There are going to be further meetings," she said. "There is a commitment by everybody involved that these matters will be addressed. Bus Éireann has a real commitment to disability issues. We have engaged with the NDA and we look forward to more, productive meetings," she said.
Bus Éireann is expected to be asked to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport later this month to explain its decision to place an order for 60 non-wheelchair accessible intercity coaches.