Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Rural Transport Programme and Veolia Transport today launched a report on Implementing an Action Plan to Promote More Age Friendly Transport Services. The event took place as part of Say No To Ageism week which is organised by the Equality Authority, the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Health Service Executive.
The five transport companies have implemented a programme of action to enhance the age friendly character of the services they provide. The actions taken included:
- Consultation with older employees, older customers and organisations of older people about the transport services provided and how they could be more friendly;
- Age awareness training for staff to support their skills in age friendly service provision; and
- Developing communication materials to better serve the needs of older people and to ensure they provide a positive profile of older customers.
Des Tallon, Manager Human Resources with Bus Éireann stated “Bus Éireann’s involvement in this Action Plan has enabled us to further develop our understanding of the needs of our older customers, helping us to minimise the barriers that older people may face when using public transport. We look forward to continuously improving our services to our older customers”.
Paddy Doherty, Business Development Manager at Dublin Bus stated “Dublin Bus welcomes dialogue with all customers and with older customers so that we can make every effort to meet specific needs.”
John Keenan, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Iarnród Éireann stated “Some people say age is a state of mind. I believe that there is a positive return to organisations who believe that age is a state to mind. In this context, age can be seen as an advantage – new thinking, emerging energy, coupled with a mature knowledge and experience base is a recipe for organisational success”.
Terri McGourty, Development Officer with the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) stated “the Rural Transport Programme provides accessible and affordable transport services in rural areas to a wide profile of rural dwellers, which facilitates access to a number of essential local and regional services. While a high percentage of older people use the services, we acknowledge the involvement of older people in the design, monitoring and management of the individual community-based projects. The ‘Say No to Ageism’ Campaign has assisted in raising the awareness of RTP staff, volunteers and the wider community in addressing the needs of older people. It has also highlighted the skills, expertise and commitment of our older rural dwellers in the design and monitoring of transport services in their community”.
Vincent Eaves, Commercial Manager of Veolia Transport, operator of the Luas welcomes the Say No to Ageism Initiative. Commenting at the launch, he said “Luas is a very accessible form of travel which makes it popular with older people. Veolia Transport’s customer care programme already recognises the needs of older people. Our focus is always about treating people with dignity and respect and listening and adapting to the needs of all passengers. An age friendly focus is part of the journey with Luas”.
Pat O’Toole, Chairman of Communications Advisory Committee of the National Council on Ageing and Older People in his presentation at the launch stated ” From consultation with older people over a long period the National Council on Ageing and Older People is very much aware of the crucial importance of transport in the lives of older citizens. A study carried out by the Council (Health and Social Services for Older People (HeSSOP) revealed that 44 per cent of all older people use public transport and 47 per cent are car drivers. For an older person, transport can be his or her lifeline to the local community for all kinds of services including medical care and is of crucial importance. For that reason the Council is very pleased with the anti-ageism initiative being implemented by the various transport providers and it is hoped that we can develop the programme further in the future”.
Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority, stated at the launch “the work of the five transport companies provides a valuable leadership for other sectors is seeking to combat ageist attitudes and practices. The work done has demonstrated the importance of creating a workplace culture that is conscious of age and ageism using staff training, workplace posters and internal communication systems”.
Age friendly service provision is provision that:
- Does not discriminate against older people and others on the ground of age;
- Takes account of the specific needs, experience and situation of older people and other age groups in the design and delivery of the service;
- Responds to the diversity of older people and makes adjustments to take this diversity into account;
- Makes reasonable accommodation for older people with disabilities;
- Contributes to promoting equality for older people and other age groups through positive action measures allowed under equality legislation; and
- Communicates a commitment to age equality out into the wider community that is served by the organisation.
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