Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, but there is nothing in it with which I can bring back to my constituents, who have raised concerns on this issue, that would provide them with any assurances.

I wish to correct the Minister of State on one point. The Minister for Finance did not act at the behest of concerns that were raised, because concerns have been raised about this scheme for years. The Minister acted as a result of a Supreme Court ruling that essentially forced the Government to introduce emergency legislation. Unfortunately, the emergency legislation ring-fenced the existing criteria, which are far too strict. They set out that in order to avail of this grant a person has to have lost a limb. There is nothing more frustrating than talking to people who cannot leave their house due to their disability or their in ability to access a car and are being told by a Department that they are not disabled enough to receive support. I ask the Minister of State, who is committed to these issues, to ensure this is prioritised, in the first instance, by the Department of Health.

I do not believe that the Department of Finance will act unilaterally on this matter. It will only act if it is forced to.

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