Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
399 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will now withdraw the upper age limit of 65 years for people who are entitled to motorised transport grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8996/04]
View answerThe guidelines in respect of the motorised transport grant were revised in July 2002, in accordance with recommendations by the national health board working group on disability related allowances/grants coming under the aegis of my Department.
The revised circular for the motorised transport grant states that all health boards may pay a grant towards the purchase of a car and/or adaptions to a car being purchased by a person with a severe disability who is 17 years or older and up to 65 years of age, where such a car is essential for him or her to obtain or retain employment. Self-employed persons who satisfy the criteria of eligibility may also be considered, subject to the above age limits. In cases where application is made on the basis of obtaining or retaining employment or self employment, the board must be satisfied that the applicant is capable of holding down a job, has the physical capacity to drive the vehicle and is qualified to hold a driver's licence, full or provisional. However, a qualified person with a disability who is incapable of driving or who has been medically advised not to drive and who has to be driven to and from his or her place of employment will only be considered eligible for a grant provided that he or she will be driven by another named person to and from his or her place of employment. The car must be purchased in the name of the person with a disability. The grant may also be considered in exceptional circumstances for a person with a severe disability, subject to the above age limits, who lives in a very remote location and whose disability impedes him or her from using public transport.
My Department's view is that the grant is primarily aimed at people with disabilities to enable them obtain or retain employment and, therefore, the upper age limit of 65 years of age is considered appropriate. The working group has made various recommendations in respect of the age limits and eligibility criteria for this grant including the withdrawal of the age limit where the motorised transport grant is paid due to "very remote location". I envisage that this issue will be addressed by the working group on the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment as part of a global review of mobility related allowances and benefits.
400 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department would indicate an approximate date by which the interdepartmental working group on motorised transport will report. [8997/04]
View answerI am not aware of the working group referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy may be referring to the interdepartmental report on the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme which was produced under the aegis of the Department of Finance.
