Speech by the Minister for Transport, Mr Martin Cullen TD Opening of the upgraded Ennis Bus Station

Date: 30 April 2007

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Flan Garvey; Deputy Chairperson of Bus Éireann, Ms Tras Honan; Bus Éireann Manager, South West, Ms Miriam Flynn, my fellow colleagues from both Dáil and Seanad Éireann, ladies and gentlemen:

Good afternoon to you all.

I am delighted to be here today for the official opening of the Ennis Bus Station. I was here in Ennis on the 26 January last for the opening of the 14-kilometre Ennis Bypass, and it is very nice to be invited back to Clare's county town for another Transport 21 related project.

A key priority of my Department is the development and upgrading of public transport facilities in order to make public transport more accessible and attractive to all.

Bus Éireann, with financial support from the Exchequer, and in some cases the European Union, has been engaged over several years in upgrading bus stations, in particular with a view to making them more user friendly and safer for both customers and staff. These accessibility projects are designed on the basis that they will be fully inclusive for everybody. Some of the basic accessibility requirements which have been incorporated into these projects, relate to:-

Adequate internal and external lighting;
Elimination of steps and provision of appropriate ramps;
Information signage that is clear and contrasting in colour and tone;
Accessible toilet facilities;
More accessible passenger boarding and alighting of vehicles;
Increased door width sizes, both internal and external;
Automation of entrance/exit doors;
Door entrances that are well illuminated
Hearing loop systems at ticket offices
Accessibility is a matter of primary concern across all transport projects. Accessible transport can make the difference between people being able to participate fully in social and economic life, and not being able to participate. The Government is committed to promoting social inclusion and this was our aim when we brought in the Disability Act 2005 and associated Sectoral Plans. My own Department's Sectoral Plan, 'Transport Access for All', addresses the accessibility needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments across all transport modes. It contains time bound targets for the progressive realisation of accessible transport in Ireland. It was prepared following an extensive consultation exercise involving meetings and discussions with transport providers, together with a wide range of groups in the disability sector.

We insisted from the beginning of the NDP 2000-2006 that new public transport projects should have accessibility for all built in from the design stage. We have continued this commitment in our ten-year investment strategy, Transport 21.

At the same time, we have to recognise that the transport infrastructure which we have inherited was built without taking into account the needs of those with mobility impairments. For this reason, we have included provision in both the NDPs and Transport 21 for the retrofitting and adaptation of existing infrastructure to take account of accessibility. The refurbished station we are opening today is a prime example of what this means in practice.

I understand that the project here in Ennis has involved a comprehensive redesign of the whole station. The success of the project can be seen in this attractive, functional building around us. The Government provided funding of some €900,000 for these works. The facilities like the ones we see here today in Ennis are essential if we are to attract people travelling or commuting out of their cars and on to public transport.

Ennis Bus Station now has automatic doors, ramped footpaths and accessible washrooms designed to facilitate use of the station and freedom of movement. There have also been improvements to information provision, such as colour contrast displays and the installation of counter loop systems to improve communication between staff and customers with hearing disabilities. I noticed on my way in here the special customer footpaths and the walkways and the neatly aligned bus bays. I would like to compliment the architects Pascal and Watson. You were also responsible for the design of the new bus station, which I opened in Tralee on 26 February 2007. Like Tralee, Ennis station is engaging and comfortable. It is enticing for the customer; the waiting area is restful; the ticket-desks are appealing and in order to attract more people to use public transport, we have to provide these kinds of enhanced facilities. People deserve the best possible services.

New facilities in themselves are only part of achieving the objective of accessibility. Staff training in disability awareness is essential if customers are to achieve the full benefits of new accessible facilities. This has been recognised for some years, and I am pleased to note that Bus Éireann has been providing disability awareness training both for its own staff and for contractors.

In the last number of years, Bus Éireann has invested considerable resources in developing an integrated network of bus services to and from County Clare, particularly Ennis and Shannon Airport. Because of its strategic location on the Western corridor, linking the cities and main population centres of the western Region, Ennis is the gateway not only to adjoining regions, but also to the 350 destinations served by Bus Éireann's long distance expressway network. I am aware that Bus Éireann provides an important hourly service on the Galway/Limerick/Cork corridor through Ennis for example, which goes on to Galway. Since 2005, services have been extended to operate via Shannon Airport and visitors flying in to Shannon are now offered 30 services a day between Shannon Airport and Ennis. I know that your local commuter and rural service facilities operate to Clarecastle and Newmarket on Fergus to mention just a few. You also offer resort services to Kilkee, Kilrush, Lahinch and other local connections to Quilty and Doonbeg. I know that Bus Éireann also responded to the village community of Feakle by introducing weekly and twice weekly services that link Scariff to Ennis, Gort, Nenagh and Killaloe.

So ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you once again for inviting me here today to view your refurbished station and to officially open it. I would like to congratulate Tras Honan, Deputy Chairperson, for the progressive work that is being undertaken by Bus Éireann in County Clare and around the country. I would like to compliment Miriam Flynn, Bus Manager, South West and her team here at the station. I believe 39 staff are employed here in the area including drivers, maintenance staff and administrative support. In addition to the architects, I would like to thank Brian McCarthy Building and Civil Engineering Contractors for completing the project on time and within budget. My thanks and congratulations to you all.

ENDS.