First ECAC assessment of assistance to persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility in Ireland
Dublin, 16-19 September 2024 — The first assessment under the ECAC Assessment Programme on the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs) took place in Ireland from 16 to 19 September 2024. This marks a significant milestone following the programme’s launch in 2024, and successive pilot phases between 2018 and 2023.
The primary objective of the programme is to assist ECAC Member States in effectively monitoring the activities of all operators providing an assistance service for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, to ensure that it is of sufficient quality. The assessment is based on ECAC’s policy document for facilitation, Doc 30, Part I.
The assessment team, comprising experts from Italy, North Macedonia and the ECAC Secretariat, was supported by the Irish Department of Transport and the Irish Aviation Authority. Throughout the four-day assessment, the team received crucial cooperation from industry stakeholders: Dublin Airport Authority, OCS, Aer Lingus and Ryanair. This collaborative effort was instrumental in evaluating and enhancing the overall quality of assistance services provided to PRMs.