Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
1204. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his plans for persons who hold a mobility allowance after 26 June 2013; if he will assure persons who are in receipt of the mobility allowance that they will continue to receive this critical support after 26 June 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16584/13]
View answer1246. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in developing schemes to replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant which were recently abolished; if he will confirm that persons currently in receipt of payments from both schemes will not lose out financially while the new schemes are developed. [16830/13]
View answer1283. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the scheme he is putting in place to replace the mobility allowance for eligible applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17099/13]
View answer1289. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the replacement scheme for mobility allowance. [17168/13]
View answer1309. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his efforts in relation to the mobility grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17373/13]
View answer1330. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health with reference to mobility allowances, motorised transport grants and the ring-fencing of €10 million funding for the scheme, if the renewed services structure will include a multiple approach scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17618/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1204, 1246, 1283, 1289, 1309 and 1330 together.
The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who require transport supports from the State. The Government is also conscious of the position of the Ombudsman that the schemes are illegal in the context of the Equal Status Acts.
Following detailed consideration of issues surrounding the Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant, the Government decided in February that it is no longer possible to allow the two schemes to continue as they presently operate and to devise an alternative for meeting people’s needs.
It is important to note that the decision is in no way intended to save costs and the funding involved in the two schemes (€10.6 million) remains committed to meeting the transport needs of relevant people.
It is also important to note that despite the fact that both schemes ended for new applicants in February, the payment of the Mobility Allowance to those who are currently in receipt will continue until June as we devise an alternative method of meeting people’s needs.
A special Project Group, which is independently chaired, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the priority transport needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. The work of the Project Group includes a public consultation process, which is currently underway and available on the Department of Health's website www.doh.ie. Any views held by individuals or organisations on this matter can be made known to the Project Group, through this process. The results of the review will be presented to the Government before any final decisions are made on future arrangements. At this stage I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of the Government.
