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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Nov 2000

Vol. 527 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Question:

113 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the basis of entitlement to the mobility allowance; the plans he has to improve the basis of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28146/00]

The mobility allowance comes under the aegis of my Department and is administered by the health boards. It was introduced in 1979 by Circular 15/79 and is payable under section 61 of the Health Act, 1970. The purpose of the 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.

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; and 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 each case. Applicants must undergo a means test to decide eligibility. The current maximum rate of mobility allowance is £45.60 per month.

The Deputy will wish to know that this allowance, among others, is being considered in the context of the following interdepartmental working groups: the review group which is examining the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; and the working group established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness which is examining the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment, chaired by my Department.

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