Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We dealt with many issues whether we are talking about disability across the board or housing. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, she has been looking for workarounds but that is half the problem. What we need are solutions. It has already been said that we have needed to deal with the discontinuation of the mobility allowance and the various transport schemes for a long time. We know there are people who really need these sort of supports but cannot get them. I will detail one case involving an email sent to me and someone who spoke to me.

I am a family friend / personal assistant for young lady tracey XXXX tracey has been several years on the scheme as passenger. Tracey has a primary medical cert and has been on the scheme years she has a car exempt under her father's name David Lee who unfortunately passed away in December 2022.

Tracey's mother is in her 70's and doesn't drive. For the last 6 years, I have been Tracey's driver for medical appointments as her father only drove a short distance and Tracey herself has several medical appointments in Dublin due to her cerebral palsy / spina bifida.

Tracey's car is a Peugeot expert independence that is already exempt. The issue is Tracey cannot avail of the scheme now since her father passed away the log book of the car needs to be in the person's name availing of the scheme. If it put in Tracey's name she cannot get her vehicle insured as she doesn't drive or I cannot insure it as that way I'm not legally on the log book. If the car is in my name because I'm not legally a relative of Tracey, I cannot avail of the scheme as it states it needs to be a family member. I have been driving Tracey nearly 75 percent of the time in the last 5-6 years.

Tracey always maintained, insured and put fuel into the vehicle. It's her car but just as a driver to the van, I have been denied insurance if the vehicle is in Tracey's name.

I do not need to continue because the point is fairly explicit in the sense that once again, we are looking for a workaround. We need to create schemes, facilities and a framework that will allow people to be all they can be to make sure they can live their lives as best they can and can go to the necessary medical appointments and other requirements and far beyond. We are affecting people's lives in a detrimental way. I assume everybody in this Chamber does not want this to be the case so we need to get our heads together and ensure there is some form of streamlining and that we give citizens the rights they deserve. I will be back regarding this issue.

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