The Chairperson of 'Disabled People Of Clare' has described as "disappointing" the fact that no funding will be made available this year for works to improve accessability at Ennis Railway Station.
DPOC submitted a request a number of years ago for a ramp or a lift to be put in place but this has now been ruled out as.
The issue of accessability has been raised by members of Disabled People of Clare in the past but the issue has raised its head once again in the Dáil.
The old access bridge at Ennis Railway Station was replaced and the new version includes provision for a lift or ramp, to help people off trains.
In a response to a written question, the Minister for Transport Paschal Donoghue said the new bridge is up to modern standards and gave no indication as to when the measures would be put in place.
Minister Donoghue ruled out any work being carried out in the short term and said a member of staff is made available to safely deploy a wheelchair ramp at Ennis Station once advance notice is provided.
Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara has branded this as "unacceptable", calling it a form of discrimination.
The DPOC made a request to Irish Rail a number of years to put such measures in place and Inagh-based Chairperson Margaret Kinnane says assurances were given at the time that work would be carried out by 2015.
Margaret says its disappointing that rail users will have to continue to wait for accessability to be improved at the Ennis railway station.
Irish Rail says the money isn't there for works to be carried out as a result of "dramatic funding" reductions in recent years but that once money becomes available, Ennis will be prioritised.
Asked when that will be, Spokesperson Barry Kenny wasn't in a position to make a committment but he hopes there will be funds in place next year.
