Results 9,041-9,060 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I will be brief as we are all probably feeling a little tired. When we get someone in to look at this, the comprehensive review required will be considered and if that can be done in a shorter period than six months, we will be very happy. We need to emphasise again that this should not be an exercise that will drive fear into people. We must be careful about this because people are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The Senator has that the wrong way around.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Different groups of officials are talking to other relevant Departments, but there is no actual working group.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I do not think the Deputy expects an answer to that. We have noted it and when the scheme is devised, no matter its consequences, it will have to go to the Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: We are all agreed on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: That would be great.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: The Deputy's question has two parts. I am sure the Minister will want to respond as well. I agree with the Deputy that one size does not fit all. Different issues can arise when people have to find various pieces before they can attend medical appointments, etc. This type of transport is not needed on every occasion to meet the mobility needs of these people. It is clear that some help...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for his contribution, which was very positive. I should have said it at the outset but this meeting was never meant to worry the section of society that relies on this payment. If we could have found a solution to this issue, we would have. It is because we are conscious of the needs of people and how much they rely on particular grants that we have been so careful about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank Senator Mulcahy for his contribution. The motorised transport grant for those aged 66 years and more is not a difficulty because once they have been awarded it, it continues on. The difficulty arises with the mobility allowance. The national disability survey has found that upwards of 59,000 people over the age of 65 years have either a lot of difficulty in walking for 15 minutes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I was hoping the Deputy would have a few suggestions but obviously not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: This is not about having someone to take a look at the scheme. We know the difficulties with the scheme. What we are doing is inviting someone in to draw up a new scheme. There are options, some of which we do not want to take. We could find a solution in the morning but we want a compassionate solution and one that works. That is the reason we are inviting somebody in to draw up a new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: It is because we do not have the money.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: No, it is not. If the Deputy listened to my contribution he would have realised that we are inviting somebody in to devise a new scheme. That is the other option. We hope that scheme will continue to protect the people most in need of the service. I have said that three times - in my opening remarks and in response to questions. We do not know yet the shape of the scheme but we hope it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I understand that we are all here to offer solutions. The committee is coming to it in this type of detail for the first time but we have been looking at this for a considerable time. The €200 million is in regard to the motorised transport grant, which is different. These are "guesstimates"-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Yes, €100 million for the other one. In terms of what is available now, as the Deputy rightly pointed out there are 4,700 recipients of the mobility allowance. There are approximately 300 applications per year for the motorised transport grant. If we were to comply, our best guess is that the number of recipients of the mobility allowance would increase to a possible figure of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: Of course. The figure for the mobility allowance is 4,700 recipients, and the figure for the motorised transport grant is 300 applications per year. If we were to comply, the mobility allowance figure would increase to 63,500 recipients and the figure for the motorised transport grant recipients would increase to 19,250 per year. There is a different application system for the motorised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: In terms of Government and the private individual, I always take the view that I am spending his or her money and they are spending their own money. That is a clear distinction. In terms of anyone taking a case for which we have had to compensate them, we have not. The Department of Health does not have a laissez-faire attitude towards the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's findings are correct;...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: I echo the thanks expressed by the Minister to the committee for the opportunity to discuss the issue today. As he outlined, the issues with these schemes are complex and ultimately resource limited. While we are continuing to work on these issues I too would sincerely welcome any constructive input the Members of the committee may wish to propose as to how the matter may be resolved. It...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (6 Feb 2013)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.