I wish to raise the imminent closure of the Irish Wheelchair Association's driving school. On 30 June next the Irish Wheelchair Association will be forced, due to a lack of finance, to close its driving school which has been in operation for the past 23 years. This comes after a lionhearted struggle by the association to maintain this essential and unique service. In recent years it has reduced the number of instructors as well as secretarial staff employed in the school. It has raised in excess of £100,000 per annum in an endeavour to keep the school in operation.
The association considers it is no longer in a position to continue the service and has been lobbying in recent months for statutory funding from the Department of Health for its survival. To date its quest has been ignored and the school is no longer accepting new students and will cease to operate in over a month's time.
This is particularly disappointing when one considers that the amount required to secure the future of the school is £135,000 per annum, a very small amount when one considers the vital and unique nature of the service the school provides.
To understand the problem we have to look at the issue in a broader context and highlight the fact that people with mobility impairment, in particular wheelchair users, find our public transport system is completely inaccessible. Wheelchair users who wish to lead normal and independent lives have no option but to learn to drive. The closure of this school will compound an already shameful and unacceptable situation and ultimately make life even more difficult for wheelchair users.
I plead with the Minister and his Department to find the necessary £135,000 to save the school. Apart from the obvious need for such a service, there is also a sound financial logic behind providing the funds. This service reduces the dependency of wheelchair users on society and provides them with an opportunity to lead independent lives. Instead of forcing dependency on the association's members the Government would be assisting in providing opportunities for wheelchair users to make a financial as well as a practical contribution to society. It is also worth considering that the school employs four instructors and if it closes these four jobs will be lost.
It is worth pointing out that the closure of this school would be another blow to voluntary organisations in our community. It raised £100,000 per annum in the past number of years but its fund raising activities like other voluntary organisations have been hit by the national lottery. It will also feel the impact of the Government's failure to give tax relief on donations to it while providing for such relief in the Finance Bill for Third World charities.
The Irish Wheelchair Association has worked tirelessly to develop and maintain this vital service. It has engaged in fund raising and has endeavoured to keep the school in operation because it is such an essential service. It has filled the gap left by the State for many years but is now at the point where it simply cannot continue. It is important that such a service is not taken for granted. I plead with the Minister to give this matter the urgent attention it deserves and to provide the funding for the school's continuation.
