Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. On this committee, we are aware of the importance of accessible transport, both public and private. The motorised transport grant was for the purpose of retaining employment but we have come to realise that transport is necessary for more than employment. It also gives access to education, shopping and socialising so that people can live independent lives. The biggest issue is in rural areas. I live in a rural area and if I did not have personalised transport I would not get to many places. There is a Local Link service in the county but it is quite sporadic. Some areas are well serviced and others are not. I have heard of the Local Link service not accepting the free travel passes of many disabled people attending day services. I am trying to get clarification on that. That should not be happening.

The witnesses talked about the fact that the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance were suspended nine years ago with the promise of a new scheme. They actually gave the new scheme a name and that seems to be all they have done.

Mr. Douglas mentioned the Motability scheme in Britain. I had some discussions with people about that scheme, especially in the North where people can avail of it and have done so for decades. People find it a good scheme where a car can be leased for a certain number of years. The insurance and upkeep of the car are covered. Are witnesses familiar with the scheme? Do they think it is a good scheme? Is it something the transport group here should consider? Are there other schemes in other jurisdictions that should also be considered? Would it work?

Mr. Fox said he was at the initial meeting of this transport group. I have heard from other groups that were at the initial meeting. That concerns me because that initial meeting was in January and I do not know what kind of work has happened since then. I hope there is a good deal of work going on behind the scenes. There needs to be consultation with groups such as Family Carers Ireland, the DDAI and others. Members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach a couple of months ago. They were engaged with once or twice on the transport scheme and that was it. They were asked for their submission, but not much happened after that.

I am also concerned about the appeal board because it resigned at the end of last year. Many people who applied for primary medical certificates have been turned down, have appealed the decision and are waiting. They are asking me how long must they wait. There is no board of appeal. I have submitted parliamentary questions asking what is happening there. The Department of Health advertised and looked for new people to go onto that. There are no applicants. People who were on it are not surprised because the criteria were so stringent. They were promised a review by the Minister for Finance which has not happened. It is concerning. People are applying for that scheme because it is the only scheme. Most of them will not qualify because the criteria are so stringent. We need a completely new scheme that covers all levels of need. I can understand the witnesses’ concern that if a new scheme was found to be too complicated, it would be suspended like the others. That is something we do not want to see.

The consultation is important. I know of disabled people who were consulted with by the National Transport Authority, Dublin Bus and so on regarding accessibility. They have engaged only to have their suggestions and submissions ignored. We do not want consultation just for the sake of a box-ticking exercise. It needs to be meaningful and those suggestions that come from disabled people need to be taken on board. Again, I thank the witnesses for their presentations here this morning.