Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister referred to the Ombudsman's report. The one published last week is only the latest of many which have been critical of the various transport schemes for disabled people. The mobility allowance and motorised transport grant were found to be inequitable by an Ombudsman's report back in 2013, ten years ago. Instead of addressing the inequities at the time, the Government suspended the schemes with a promise to replace them with something much more equitable. It has not happened. When the Minister says this is going to be treated with urgency, it is very hard to see that happening when it has taken ten years to replace those schemes. People are applying for the disabled drivers and passengers scheme because there is no other option there. Not all of those people will qualify because the criteria are so stringent. People are applying for those schemes who do not need or want to drive or obtain a car. We are not addressing the needs of people who live in areas where they could have the mobility allowance or motorised transport grant to assist them. In fact, it is more inequitable now because people who were in receipt of the mobility allowance prior to 2013 are still receiving it and those who should qualify have not been able to apply or receive it. It is more inequitable than it was to start with.

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