Vol. 534 No. 3
157 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will set out the guidelines for mobility allowance; when these guidelines were last reviewed; and if he intends to review the guidelines again in the near future. [10452/01]
The mobility allowance is a monthly payment which provides financial support to severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport and is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings, for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey.
My Department from time to time considers changes to the disability related allowances which come under its aegis to ensure that the most appropriate agreed financial supports and allowances are provided to people with disabilities. As an example of such a change, from 1 April 2001, the maximum rate of the mobility allowance has been increased from a £45.60 per month to £90 per month.
It had been envisaged that from 1 April 2001, persons who benefit from the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' (tax concessions) scheme would be unable to also avail of mobility allowance. By definition, the beneficiaries of the tax based scheme have access to transport which is heavily subsidised by the State, and the object of the new arrangement is to target the increased mobility allowance at incapacitated people who do not enjoy these advantages.
In consultation with the Minister for Finance, I gave further consideration to this proposal in the light of concerns expressed and representations received about the impact of complete cessation of the mobility allowance on some affected individuals. It has now been decided that while the increased rate of up to a maximum of £90 per month will, as intended, be given only to people who are not also enjoying the tax concessions, those benefiting from both schemes should retain the mobility allowance at the existing rate of up to a maximum of £45.60 per month.
To be eligible to receive the mobility allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions: be over 16 years and under 66 years; 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 each case. Applicants must undergo a means test to decide eligibility.
My Department is currently undertaking an examination of the disability related allowances which come under its aegis and are administered by the health boards, including mobility allowance.
158 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applicants for the mobility allowance for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001; and the number of persons whose applications were unsuccessful but were approved on appeal. [10453/01]
Mobility allowance is a monthly payment administered by the health boards which provides financial support to severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport and is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings, for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey.
The information required is not readily available in my Department and I have asked the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to forward the information to me. I will let the Deputy have the required information as soon as possible.
