Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012
573 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to amend the guidelines for the mobility allowance scheme to make it compliant with the requirements of the Equal Status Act 2003, which prohibits discrimination in the provision of services on the grounds of age; and when the scheme will be fully compliant with equality legislation. [4857/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has accepted the Ombudsman's recommendation to review and revise the mobility allowance so as to render it compliant with the Equal Status Acts. The Department also notes that the Ombudsman, in a footnote to her recommendation, expresses no view as to the terms of the revision of the mobility allowance other than the revised scheme should be compliant with the Equal Status Acts. The Department accepts that the mobility allowance cannot continue to operate on the current basis. The Department has pointed out to the Ombudsman that there are a range of potential policy options that need to be considered. Final policy decisions in this regard have yet to be taken.
