Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Conway is correct. As we enter a period of economic recovery and as that recovery takes hold, even though it is still fragile, it is appropriate that we begin a debate about what one does with economic recovery, and I welcome the fact that the Senator has raised the issue. However, this is a matter that the Department of Finance keeps under constant review but the Senator will appreciate the costs of the scheme, which I outlined, and that we do not wish to make unrealistic promises to people. This Government does not do that.

The Government has made a number of welcome reforms in respect of people with disabilities, for example, the assisted decision making legislation published by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, and the first review of special needs education to take place since 1993. With regard to the issue of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant, while these are matters for the Minister for Health, the Department of Health is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns.

I am conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance scheme in the context of the Equal Status Act. The Government decided to close both schemes on 26 February 2013 and in November 2013 it decided that the preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to the Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The challenge is to provide these benefits to a wider cohort of people while continuing to cater for the 4,700 people already in receipt of a monthly payment within a limited budget. When the policy proposals have been finalised by the Minister for Health and approved by the Government, the timeframe for the introduction of a new scheme will become clearer.

There are clearly a number of areas relating to disability on which we continue to work.