Padraig addresses Oireachtas committee on accessibility issues

BRAY man Padraic Moran has been in the public eye for a number of reasons over the years, from becoming a paralympic boccia athlete, to broadcasting with East Coast FM.

More recently, he has been fighting Irish Rail for access to train services.

Last week, Padraic addressed a joint committee of the Oireachtas on access to public transport for people with disabilities and said that decreasing the notice period from 24 hours to four hours is not sufficient.

Minister for Transport Shane Ross said that all public transport bodies will be compelled to appoint a board member with specific experience of disability-related issues.

Padraic explained that he has cerebral palsy which impairs his motor function. He needs a power chair to travel. He works for Sky Ireland, and he works for East Coast FM as a sports reporter and production assistant. His daily commute brings him to Ballsbridge. ‘It’s gotten progressively worse,’ he told the committee last week.

‘People with disabilities don’t like asking for help. It’s a very humbling experience that we have to ask for assistance,’ he said. ‘ For things like transport, should be fully autonomous to go and get on a bus or a train, not have to give four hours or 24 hours notice.

‘It’s not fair,’ said Padraig. ‘If any of the “able-bodied” population had to do that, people wouldn’t stand for it.’

He described two incidents on the Dart during which there was nobody present at Bray station to help him get off the train. One last August, and a second in December - when the Dart travelled on to Greystones with Padraic on board.

In Greystones, on a cold night, he had to stick his legs out the door and suffered a swollen ankle. ‘If I hadn’t stuck my leg out I would have ended up on the siding.

He told the committee that he has called on the CEO of Irish Rail a number of times to come and talk to him. ‘I want him to grow a set,’ said Padraic. ‘It’s easy to make cuts. It’s hard to stand in front of someone with a face, who is directly impacted by the cuts.’

He said that the biggest issue is taking staff from stations. ‘ They blame people not buying cash tickets as they have Leap cards. Irish Rail is still getting the money from the Leap cards.’

Padraic met Minister for Transport Shane Ross the previous week, along with Deputy John Brady, Senator John Dolan and Department officials. They said that the meeting was productive.

‘ The purpose of the meeting was to afford Padraic the opportunity to clearly outline to the Minister, the many issues he faces as someone who relies on the DART to get to and from work on a daily basis,’ said Deputy Brady.

‘While Padraic talked about his own experience as a regular commuter, the issues he raised are universal. They are the very issues that, in some cases prevent people with Disabilities from being able to access public transport and in essence, live their lives.’

They presented the minister with a petition opposing the unmanning of Dart and train stations, signed by over 3,000 people.