Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find the tone of the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Martin's question on the series of shootings in Dublin very ironic. Let me remind the Taoiseach that some time ago we had a similar situation in Limerick, and Fine Gael, then in opposition, expected us to solve the problem and roundly condemned us every time someone was shot. I can just imagine what the response of the Taoiseach would have been when he was in opposition if we had given an answer like his.

When will the mobility allowance be restored? The Taoiseach is aware that it has been three years since the mobility allowance was stopped. The Ombudsman decided that the scheme should be broadened, but instead the Government stopped it and set up a committee. Last week the Tánaiste, in reply to Deputy Adams, said the matter was being worked on in the Department of Health. Strangely enough, about four months after the mobility allowance scheme ceased, I had a similar query and received precisely the same answer, namely, that the Department of Health was working on the issue. That was two years and eight months ago. How much work does it take? When will this significant volume of work be brought to a conclusion? When will the mobility allowance be restored?

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