Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1186. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if transport, such as taxis, will be provided for service users attending specialist community-based disability services when no other public transport is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16467/23]
View answerThe HSE provides specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services, and people with intellectual disabilities would form the majority of service users who are supported by these services. While day service funding does not include transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport. To develop proposals for better coordination of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities, a Transport Working Group was established, co-ordinated by my Department and chaired by my colleague Minister Rabbitte.
The outcomes of the work of the Group will provide a valuable evidence base for future policy development, including the successor strategy to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. The report was published last month and is available on the DCEDIY website.
