Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will raise it with the relevant Departments and see what we can do. Perhaps the Deputy could send an email requesting the meeting because it is a cross-departmental area. I understand there was some issue with the allocation of this Topical Issue matter. The Department of Health has asserted the issue at St. Michael's House developed due to a combination of factors as outlined by the Deputy.

In this case, a recent driver retirement and other long-term vacancies meant that St. Michael's House could no longer sustain the route, which the Deputy mentioned. The process of establishing more detailed information on the service is under way between the Department of Health and the HSE. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will be happy to follow up with the Deputy on this matter.

Action 104 of the national disability inclusion strategy, NDIS, contains a commitment to review all Government funded transport and mobility supports, and develop proposals for better co-ordination in the space. The transport working group, chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, met most recently in September 22. Members of the group have been requested to submit proposals to fulfil the requirement of action 104 for consideration by the group at its next and final meeting in November 2022. It is intended that a report and proposal will be prepared and submitted before the current NDIS comes to an end on 31 December 2022. As I said, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will be happy to follow up with Deputy Smith on this matter. If she wants to send me an email I can forward that to the Department.

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