Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1094. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he in conjunction with the relevant Departments will consider developing a scheme for bicycles for those on disability allowance similar to the bike to work scheme to make the purchase of a bicycle viable for those in receipt of this benefit. [1182/22]
View answerI wish to thank to the Deputy for his suggestion which I have requested my officials to consider in the context of the national disability strategies.
I have no direct responsibility for transport policy or for tax relief schemes such as the bike to work scheme, which fall to my ministerial colleagues. However, my Department does coordinate a number of whole-of-government disability strategies, where actions from the relevant departments and agencies are brought together so that individual action can be coordinated and deliver better outcomes for persons with disabilities.
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is one such framework. Under Action 104 of the NDIS, a number of Departments, including my own, are responsible for a review of transport supports for people with disabilities. The purpose of the review is to enhance the transport options that are available to people with disabilities to support greater independent living and for the purposes of accessing employment. This proposal will be brought to the attention of the relevant Departments within that review process.
