Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 106, 119 and 120 together.

The national disability inclusion strategy transport working group, NDIS TWG, comprising members from a range of Departments, agencies and disabled persons' organisations, was tasked to review all Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability, including the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, DDS. Officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth led the work of the group.

The final report was published on 24 February 2023, and welcomed the proposal put forward by the Department of Finance and the criteria subgroup that the disabled drivers scheme be replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation system and indicated that the proposal was a clear deliverable on which work could begin in the relatively near future.

The final report also notes in its conclusion that the disabled drivers scheme is outdated and that the scheme needs to be addressed as a matter of priority. However, the final report does not set out next steps. It will be a matter for the Government as to how to take this matter forward. I will address that now.

Access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Departments and agencies. Under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from the report and to map a way forward.

Department of Finance officials are proactively engaging with the work of the senior officials group as an important step in examining ways to replace the disabled drivers scheme, as one specific personal transport response, in the context of broader Government consideration of integrated transport and mobility supports for those with a disability. Two meetings have been held so far, the first in July and the second more recently at the beginning of November. Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach are currently considering material supplied after these meetings. Any further changes to the existing scheme will be considered in that context.

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