Vol. 543 No. 4
70 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria necessary for eligibility for mobility allowance; if such successful applicants have to go through a means test, age test or medical test; if a decision has to be made by a health board official that such applicants would benefit from getting out of their homes; his views on whether such criteria are valid in respect of personal rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27251/01]
The mobility allowance is a monthly payment administered by the health boards, which provides financial support for severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport. It is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings, for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey.
To be eligible to receive the mobility allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions: be over 16 years and under 66 years. However, an allowance, once granted, will be continued after the age of 66 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.
My Department is currently undertaking an examination of the disability related allowances which come under its aegis and are administered by the health boards. All aspects of the mobility allowance scheme are being considered in this context.
