Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter: the need for immediate change in the manner in which the disabled person's grant is assessed and paid — one third of the grant is paid by local government and the balance by central government — given that the inability of some local authorities to pay one third of the grant is resulting in a lack of equity; the need to rewrite the guidelines for the scheme, which are based on wheelchair disability, meaning that much of the time of occupational therapists who assess those with ambient disabilities is wasted on writing arguments to help people qualify, to avoid wasting the time of key professionals; and the need to revise this necessary scheme, which keeps people at home and helps them to stay independent, as a matter of urgency.

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