Vol. 523 No. 4
125 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he will take to assist a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8, who has mobility difficulties, to attend a back to education programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/00]
The purpose of the mobility allowance is to provide financial support to severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport in order to finance the occasional taxi journey. The allowance is payable to a person, through their health board, if s/he meets the eligibility criteria set down. To be eligible to receive this allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions: be over 16 years and under 66 years, however, an allowance, once granted, will be continued after this age as long as the other criteria for eligibility are met; be living at home or maintained by a health board in any long-term institution; be unable to walk, even with the use of artificial limbs or other suitable aids, or must 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 at least one year; moving of the applicant must not have been forbidden for medical reasons; be in a condition to benefit from a change in surroundings.
It is a matter for the senior area medical officer in the relevant health board to decide whether the medical criteria are satisfied in a particular case. Applicants must undergo a means test to decide eligibility.
If this person feels she meets the medical criteria she should contact the Eastern Regional Health Authority which will advise her on the next steps.
