Vol. 496 No. 6
313 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will direct the health boards to have the mobility allowance extended to a person over the age of 66 where the free travel pass, which is awarded to them by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, is of no benefit to them. [23655/98]
The mobility allowance was introduced by way of a circular letter to the health boards in August 1979. The letter states that the scheme applies to persons in the age group of 16 to 66 years who are unable to walk and who would benefit from occasional trips away from home.
I have no immediate plans to change the qualifying criteria for the mobility allowance. However, the proposal made by the Deputy will be considered in the context of any further review of this scheme within my Department.
