Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Connolly raised a question about the appeals board. In the appeals, is it taking on board the new philosophy that the Minister spoke about in relation to the alternative gateway?

5 o’clock

The Minister said he is not taking the lead on this. Does the note from his Department indicate that funding will be in place for this alternative gateway when we look at the criteria that will be in place, to ensure it will be there for people who suffer from very different kinds of disability? Too many people have been waiting a long time. Many people could never even think of accessing this scheme because of the medical model. All of those people were excluded anyway, but, right now, so many people are waiting. They want to know, at least from today's questions, whether the Department's note indicated that the recommendations from the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group will be funded. If we knew that today, it would be positive news.

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