The national body representing the disabled in Ireland has criticised plans by Bus Éireann to purchase a fleet of buses with no wheelchair access.
A report in today's edition of the Irish Times revealed that Bus Éireann was planning to spend €16 million on a fleet of luxury coaches with no wheelchair access.
Mr Stephen McWhite, general manager of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI), added his voice to criticism of Bus Éireann when he said the move was totally at odds with Government policy and international norms.
He said disabled people were effectively being deprived of using public transport. "This is an incredible development," he said.
"The lack of access is one of the primary impediments to people with disabilities playing an equal role in society.
"This decision by Bus Éireann will effectively deprive people with disabilities from enjoying the same travel opportunities as the rest of the community for many years to come."
The new buses, made by Scania, have been acclaimed for their luxurious design and even scooped the Coach of the Year award in 2004. It is understood they will be operating between Ireland's major towns and cities in the next two to three months.
A spokeswoman for Bus Éireann said there was a reluctance in the industry to manufacture coaches which are wheelchair accessible.
However, Mr McWhite said the PwDI, through its involvement in the Public Transport Advisory Committee to the Department of Transport, had made it abundantly clear to Bus Éireann and Government officials that wheelchair accessible coaches were the norm around the world.
"This decision has been taken at a time when the Department of Transport's motto is 'Transport For All' and in an era when the Government says disability is a priority under the national disability strategy," Mr McWhite said.
"It doesn't add up. Policy statements are one thing, tangible change for people with disabilities is quite another. Clearly equality of treatment for people with disabilities is still a very long way away."