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Motorised Transport Grant Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 June 2014

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Questions (98, 99, 100, 101)

Noel Harrington

Question:

98. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health the position regarding reform of the mobility allowance; when he will be in a position to introduce legislation to regularise the scheme to allow his Department to accept new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23992/14]

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Noel Harrington

Question:

99. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health the position regarding reform of the motorised transport grant; when he will be in a position to introduce legislation to regularise the scheme to allow his Department to accept new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23993/14]

View answer

Noel Harrington

Question:

100. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health in respect of the mobility allowance scheme, the number of persons in receipt of the allowance in January 2013, March 2013, June 2013, October 2013, January 2014, March 2014 and June 2014; the number of persons he expects to apply once the scheme is reopened to accept new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23994/14]

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Noel Harrington

Question:

101. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health in respect of the motorised transport grant scheme, the number of persons in receipt of the grant in January 2013, March 2013, June 2013, October 2013, January 2014, March 2014 and June 2014; the number of persons he expects to apply once the scheme is reopened to accept new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23995/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 101, inclusive, together.

Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes to new applications on 26th February 2013. Following the work of the Review Group on Transport Supports for People with Disabilities and the Inter-Departmental Group tasked by Government to consider details of a statutory replacement for the discontinued schemes, the Government decided in November 2013, that the preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of people in receipt of both payments is not available in the format requested. However, the Health Service Executive continues to make payment to the 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance payment in February 2013.

The Motorised Transport Grant was a single payment payable once in any three year period and was made to approximately 300 people each year. As the Motorised Transport Grant scheme was closed in February 2013, no payments have been made since then.

Given that decisions around eligibility criteria and means testing have yet to be made in relation to any new scheme, it is not possible to provide an estimation of the number of people possibly waiting to apply for any new scheme.

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