Mr. Pat Carty:

To go to a wedding or any function two or three times a year, it is possible to organise and have everything in place. If there are a few people, a wheelchair and other things to bring along, it is not practical to do that much organising every time. The disabled drivers tax scheme was great for me. I am independent. I can go in the car on my own. However, families need an adapted vehicle.

It is all right for just one or two days per year. Considerable organisation is needed, however, in rural and urban settings. It is just not possible to go here and there every time. In a family situation, one may have to bring children to school in the morning and bring other dependent children somewhere else. They may not all fit in the vehicle together.

To be fair, people do not realise, as Mr. Douglas said, the level of organisation and planning that has to go into a day trip. However, if we have our own vehicles and independence by whatever means we get them, such as the mobility grant, we can do the organising ourselves. We are capable of doing the organising in many cases. There is no need for people to plan for us. We can do it, if we get the simple tools to get on the ladder and have the supports to do so.