Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

A group is looking at the matter of the mobility allowance. We can certainly ensure we get a progress report to the Deputy and to the House as soon as possible.

I want to ensure the Deputy has not misinterpreted what I said. He used the word "conduit". Neither the Minister for Health nor I have any role whatsoever in the allocation of or appeals over medical cards, discretionary or otherwise. However, in the normal run of events people raise the issue with me and the Department as to how the system operates. My knowledge of how the system operates tells me without doubt that there is the exercise of discretion in circumstances where people's income is above the limits set out in the guidelines but who may have an illness or condition that will affect their resources, means or ability to provide in respect of their health.

There is no question of any targeting. I have made this point previously to Deputy Kelleher. Records in the PCRS do not categorise applicants in accordance with their medical condition. The system is not set up in such a way as to categorise people in accordance with a particular illness or condition, such as a neurological condition. It would be perverse to seek to target people with particular conditions. Even if anyone wanted to do it, which would be amazing, they could not do it because the system is not set up that way. People with particular disabilities, diseases or conditions cannot be and are not targeted for review.

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