Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and her officials for coming before the committee. They are very welcome. I must apologise for missing the beginning of the meeting. I had a timetable clash so I cannot be everywhere at the same time.

I have emphasised in a number of Dáil contributions the need to stop disabling disabled people further in our built environment. The Minister of State mentioned that she had personal connections with people with disabilities and she very much understands the importance that the built environment has on accessibility. I know she is looking at how best to progress the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme and providing tax reliefs linked to buying and using specially constructed or adapted vehicles. Many people with disabilities do not, cannot or do not want to drive. I know people who have MS and early-onset Parkinson’s, and they actually find it easier to cycle than to walk. Will the Minister of State consider a fund to be made available to people with disabilities for e-bikes and e-trikes? These offer more balance to people with disabilities, as do e-cargo bikes. We currently have the bike-to-work scheme, but it is limited and it is not available to people outside of employment, sole traders, or people who are working in the home. I ask the Minister of State to, therefore, consider a funding scheme for people to purchase these kinds of bikes for adapting wheelchairs as well into electric trikes. This would not be through a medical model but rather to give people with disabilities their right to independence in mobility.