Getting There: Transport and Access to Social Services

A briefing Session on a new social policy report Getting There: Transport and Access to Social Services published by the Citizens Information Board (CIB) will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel Ennis on Tuesday 2^nd March at 11.00am.

The Report highlights the range of issues experienced by the public in relation to travel, transport and access, particularly in rural areas. Issues such as:

• Lack of public transport in many rural areas and inability in some cases to avail of 'free travel'
• The continuing poor accessibility of some public transport, particularly outside the main cities
• Limitations of current transport and mobility support schemes
• Difficulties in getting transport to and from hospital services
• A heavy reliance on Supplementary Welfare Allowance Exceptional Needs Payments to cover the costs of transport to and from hospitals
• Transport and the cost of disability; people with disabilities regularly incur taxi costs in accessing services
• Impact of lack of appropriate transport on people with disabilities taking up employment or training opportunities
• Difficulties experienced by some people in accessing information about public transport options and transport supports.

• Streamlining (or cohesion) to achieve greater co-ordination between services for the benefit of users, particularly in respect of accessing necessary health and social services
• Rationalisation of the current multiplicity of schemes to provide the most efficient use of available resources and improved equality of access for all groups of people with transport and mobility issues

The report refers to the lead role of the Department of Transport in bringing together the different government departments and statutory agencies involved in transport provision in order to optimise resources. Developing a more integrated approach including further transport provision by voluntary organisations and the HSE and how these fit with the Rural Transport Programme should be included in the evaluation. Also, since sustainability is a key factor, public transport policy needs to be fully integrated with other policies such as those in relation to spatial and regional planning, as well as education and health.

Programme

10.30 –11.00                   Registrations: Tea/Coffee

10.30 – 10.45                  Welcome Introduction/Opening Address:

                                      Cllr Tony Mulcahy, Mayor of Clare

10.45 – 11.15                  Michael Browne, Consultant, Author of the Report Getting There: Transport and Access to Social Services

11.15 – 11.30                  Dermot Hayes, Network Support Officer, PwDI

11.30 – 12.00                  Laura Ward, Manager, Clare Accessible Transport

12.00am – 12.30              Close: Chair, Open Forum Questions/Answers

This event is being organised by the Citizens Information Service as part of its Social Policy Initiative