asked the Minister for Health if he will outline details of the conditions of eligibility attached to the mobility allowance for handicapped persons and the number of people expected to benefit from this measure.
29.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Handicapped Persons' Mobility Allowance.
28.
asked the Minister for Health the full basis of eligibility, including details of the degree of medical handicap and means test limits, for persons who wish to apply for the £150 annual mobility allowance.
30.
asked the Minister for Health the number of persons approved to date for the mobility allowance for persons who are unable to walk and the estimated number of persons who are likely to be approved under the eligibility regulations in a full year.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 to 30, inclusive, together.
This scheme applies to persons in the age group 16 to 66 years who are living at home. However, an allowance once granted will be continued after pensionable age as long as the person meets the basic criteria.
There is a means test similar to that which operates for the purposes of the Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance, that is, that by reason of disability the applicant is unable to provide for his maintenance and his spouse, if any, is unable to maintain him.
The basic medical conditions to qualify for payment of the allowance are as follows:
—The applicant is unable to walk, even with the use of artificial limbs or other suitable aids, or is in such a condition of health that the extra exertion required to walk would be dangerous.
—Inability to walk has to be likely to persist for at least one year.
—The applicant must not be forbidden for medical reasons from being moved.
—The applicant must be in a position to benefit from a change in his surroundings.
The scheme came into operation on 1 September and details are not yet available of the numbers approved by health boards for payment of the allowance. It has been estimated that about 2,500 persons will benefit under the scheme.
I ask the Minister if he could review two aspects of the scheme. First of all, regarding the £3 per week payable to such persons, is the Minister aware that the allowance in Northern Ireland, for example, is £12 per week and that really £3 per week would pay for only a couple of miles in a taxi in one direction only? It is miniscule. Would the Minister urge the health boards to exercise compassionate criteria in assessing people in view of the stringent means test which has been brought into operation for a very small number of people in the nation, only 2,500?
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that there was nothing there before and there is something there now. Admittedly, it is only £3 a week. The idea is that people in the category who qualify will have one outing a week. That is what is intended. I know that the allowance in Britain and in Northern Ireland was £10 until recently and is being increased to £12 from 1 November. We are only starting this. There was nothing there before and it is a beginning. It is something we will keep under review and improve it as we can.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister consider extending this scheme to people who are otherwise qualified but who are in institutions? Would he consider giving them some allowance?
That is under active consideration.