Vol. 482 No. 3
197 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason his Department has advised the Midland Health Board not to pay a motorised transport grant to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if his Department will change this advice in order to allow the board make this payment in view of the hardship involved. [17729/97]
The primary purpose of the financial assistance provided to persons with a disability, for the purchase or adaptation of motorised transport, is to enable them to travel to work and earn a living. The person, referred to by the Deputy, for whom the grant was being sought was not earning a living but attending school, and therefore ineligible for assistance under the scheme. It should be noted, however, that the Department of Education provides assistance towards the cost of transport to school where the individual is unable to avail of the normal school transport service. In addition, the Midland Health Board was advised by my Department that, in this instance, it could consider making a financial contribution towards the transport costs associated with attendance at the Central Remedial Clinic and hospital appointments in Dublin. Where there is a particular hardship involved it is open to the person's family to apply to the Midland Health Board for a supplementary welfare allowance. Other reliefs for people with a disability are available from the Revenue Commissioners which assist with the purchase and running costs of motorised transport for people with disabilities.
