Anti-Ageism Initiative Launched in Public Transport Sector – Aug '07
As part of the national "Say No to Ageism" initiative launched during this year's Anti-Ageism Week in June, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, the Rural Transport Programme and Veolia Transport have produced a report on "Implementing an Action Plan to Promote More Age-Friendly Transport Services". The five transport companies have implemented a programme of actions 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 age-friendly;
- Age-awareness training for staff to support their skills in the provision of a service to older customers;
- Developing communication materials to better serve the needs of older people and to ensure they provide a positive profile of older customers.
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".
Vincent Eaves, Commercial Manager of Veolia Transport, operator of the Luas, welcomed the "Say No to Ageism", commenting that "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".
Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority, stated at the launch that "the work of the five transport companies provides a valuable leadership for other sectors in 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".
An age-friendly service provision is a 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.