Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2013
231. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 523 of 18 June 2013, if he will indicate the exact number of months that the mobility allowance is to be extended; and if he will confirm that this applies to the motorised transport grant also [31091/13]
View answerAs I indicated to the Deputy in my response to his question on 18th June last, an Interdepartmental Group has been asked to develop detailed proposals and to report back to Government by October. I am not in a position to pre-empt any decision the Government may make, following the receipt of the report of the Interdepartmental Group. I can assure the Deputy that the Government will take the needs of this vulnerable group into consideration when making a decision on any future arrangements.
The Government decided to extend payments of Mobility Allowance by the Health Service Executive to those currently in receipt for a further number of months, pending establishment of new statutory provisions to support the mobility needs of people with severe disabilities. This decision was taken on the basis that this will prevent hardship, and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society. The existing position regarding the Motorised Transport Grant remains as before, i.e. the scheme remains closed. The inter-departmental group will examine this issue as part of its considerations of how future statutory arrangements should operate.
