Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is nothing to do with the buses. This is mainly for people who are unable to access public transport. The aim is to provide them with a vehicle they can use or which someone can use on their behalf to get them out and keep them mobile. My concern is that the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are involved but it is not clear which Department will take the lead on the issue. When will we have a new scheme in place? That is what the Ombudsman is seeking. We need to get a new scheme up and running.

There are discussions about the other scheme going on between the Department of Finance and the Department of Health, but is the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth involved as well? Which Department is taking the lead on it and which one will bring forward the schemes?

With the transfer from one Department to another, I am afraid these things will get lost in transit or be delayed because something has not happened where the Ombudsman is looking for urgent action.