Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Jul 1991

Vol. 410 No. 6

Written Answers. - Travel Vouchers.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

128 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health whether regulations have been issued to the health boards in relation to the provision of travel vouchers to relatives of mentally handicapped persons to enable them to visit on a regular basis; the conditions, if any, surrounding the issue of these vouchers; and if he will outline the arrangements for their issue on a board by board basis.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I assume the Deputy is referring to family visits to persons with mental handicap in accommodation away from home. In 1971 a scheme of free travel was introduced for parents and families of children in institutions. The basic qualification for eligibility was that parents should belong to the lower income group — medical card holders, or be, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the health board, unable without undue hardship to meet the travelling costs involved.

In the case of persons with mental handicap the scheme allowed six visits a year for two parents, or other members of the family, or 12 visits a year for one parent, or other family member.

The present position is that health boards do assist families with travel on the basis of need as assessed. This takes the form of using health board transport, support under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, travel vouchers or support to parents and friends associations towards the cost of organising transport for visiting purposes.