Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 8

Written Answers. - Mobility Allowance.

Mary Wallace

Question:

93 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the present position in regard to the mobility allowance; the rates of the allowance; if the allowance is means tested; and the criteria with regard to obtaining the allowance. [7639/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The mobility allowance for handicapped persons was introduced in 1979. This allowance is payable to persons between the ages of 16 and 66 years and the qualifying criteria are that: the person must be unable to walk, even with the use of artificial limbs, or be in such a condition of health that the exertion required to walk would be dangerous; inability to walk has to be likely to persist for one year; moving the applicant must not have been forbidden for medical reasons and the applicant must be in a condition to benefit from a change in surroundings.

The current rate of payment of the mobility allowance is £37.10 per month which is increased annually in line with social welfare increases. The allowance is means tested, the limit being set at the level of the disabled person's maintenance allowance of £61 per week. In cases where an applicant's means exceeds this amount, a partial mobility allowance may be paid.