asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that disabled persons in residential care receive equal rights with those who do not require residential care in relation to free travel facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Travel Facilities for Disabled.
76.
Free travel passes are issued by the Department of Social Welfare to all those who satisfy the qualifying conditions, without regard to their place of residence. However, the entitlement of some disabled persons to free travel facilities is linked to their entitlement to a disabled person's maintenance allowance. This allowance is not payable to persons in institutions. I would expect, however, that health boards would give reasonable assistance to such persons who wish to travel.
I dealt further with this matter in my reply of 24 April to the Deputy's question to me in my capacity as Minister for Social Welfare—Dáil Debates Volume 319, column 2124.
Is the Minister aware that the situation he has outlined does not meet the needs of people whose free travel vouchers have been taken away from them for the reason he has stated, because the most generous of the health boards do not seem to be able to rise above £2 or £4 a week in addition to the cost of patients' residential care? Does he realise that the patients concerned simply would not have enough disposable income from this source to pay both for transport and for any reasonable recreation they would be entitled to?
I dealt with that aspect in greater detail in reply to the Deputy's other question. I pointed out then that I am aware of the dissatisfaction expressed by the various organisations about this situation. This will be borne in mind in reviewing the arrangements for the care of the disabled in residential centres. The review is now being commenced and it will involve discussions with health boards, the managements of these homes and institutions and representatives of disabled people. I have asked that the review be undertaken as a matter of urgency.
Would it not be the simplest thing in the world to ensure that people would have free travel facilities even if they are in residential care? This would not cause any administrative difficulties or involve enormous cost.
A large number of people are involved. The Department would have to pay for each person, whether he or she makes use of the free travel benefit or not. That would involve establishing a suitable administrative procedure to meet a need, without, in some cases, transfers to the transport undertaking.