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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 18 and 40 together.

The Deputies will be aware that the final report of the national disability inclusion strategy, NDIS, transport working group's review of mobility and transport supports, including the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, DDS, endorsed proposals for a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme in line with international best practice that would replace the DDS. The working group was chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Deputies should note that my Department had a significant input into the development of this report. Its views, which I share, that the DDS is no longer fit for purpose, are appropriately reflected. The NDIS report is broad-ranging because access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Departments and agencies. Consequently, under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from it in order to map a way forward. That is what the Deputy referred to in her opening remarks.

My officials are proactively engaging with this senior officials group's work as an important step in considering ways to replace the DDS, as one specific personal transport response, in the context of broader Government consideration of holistic, multifaceted and integrated transport and mobility supports for those with a disability. Four meetings of the group have been held in July, November and December 2023 and last month. The Department of Finance submitted a note to the group with my approval in mid-January 2024. This note outlines a proposal for a replacement scheme for the DDS which would be a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. This proposal is in line with what the NDIS transport working group report endorsed. In that context, any further changes to the existing DDS would run counter to NDIS proposals to entirely replace the scheme with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme.

Finally, the Deputies should note that while my Department has oversight of the DDS, I do not have responsibility for disability policy but we will contribute proactively to this work. We have gathered a lot of experience and expertise in the administration of the existing scheme which can be very usefully used in designing a new modern grant-based scheme. It will be a matter for the Government to decide on any new scheme to replace the DDS. The work is continuing at the senior officials working group.

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