Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
836. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on putting in place a grant to assist blind visually impaired people having difficulty accessing taxi services due to increasing costs [13472/23]
View answerI am very aware of the difficulties and additional costs that the blind and visually impaired face due to their disability. To help with these costs my Department already has a range of supports available, subject to satisfying the relevant qualification criteria.
The Blind Pension is one of these supports. The Blind Pension is a means-tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people who are habitually resident in Ireland. To qualify for the Blind Pension, an applicant must supply an eye test from an opthalmic surgeon to verify their visual impairment. The payment is made up of a personal rate and extra amounts for a qualified adult and any child dependants. If a person is awarded a Blind Pension, they may also qualify for the Blind Welfare Allowance which is an additional payment paid by the HSE to help those who are blind and visually impaired with costs associated with their disability.
The Free Travel Scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. The free travel pass is available to all registered blind people regardless of whether they qualify for the Department's Blind Person's Pension or any other Social Protection payment. To receive the free travel pass, the person must meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension, or alternatively, be registered as blind with the National Council of the Blind Ireland or the League of the Blind of Ireland.
Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme are available for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and include help towards recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. The support can either be on a once-off basis as an exceptional needs payment or as a supplement, where there is an ongoing need.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
