Ruth Coppinger
Question:103. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will restore the mobility allowance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15. [15870/15]
View answerWednesday, 22 April 2015
Questions (103)
Written answers
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Mobility Allowance Scheme and the Motorised Transport Grant, in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013. However monthly payments have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time that the scheme closed, in the interests of preventing hardship. The Department has instructed the HSE that the cohort of people in receipt of the monthly payment should continue to be paid by the HSE at their existing rate until further instruction issues from the Department of Health, on foot of any further decisions the Government may take.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for investigation of the matter raised and for a direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.