Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is regrettable there is no indication as to when this transition will happen. The entire board of appeal resigned because the scheme that is under the Department of Finance is not fit for purpose. I do not think anybody in the House or in Cabinet, including the Minister, accepts that it is fit for purpose. It is highly discriminatory. It does not serve the needs of those individuals who are disabled and who need access to transport. It is now January and not being able to say this is going to happen in the first, second or even third quarter of the year is really regrettable. This has been going on for a long time now. The other Department is dealing with a grant-based scheme but given that the Minister's Department is operating the scheme, which has been roundly criticised, including by the Ombudsman, I encourage him to take a hands-on approach this year and try to push the Government in a joined-up approach to get a fit-for-purpose model. It is urgently and desperately needed.