Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Colm Burke for raising the issue of transport for people with disabilities and commend him on his work for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. I welcome the opportunity to outline the current position on the issue of transport for people with disabilities attending HSE-funded day services. Over the past 12 months, I have visited and met over 4,000 people with physical and intellectual disabilities in many services across the country. Recently, I visited the Cope Foundation in Cork and met the parents and families of its clients.

The provision of transport to adults with a disability attending HSE-funded day services is not a core health service. I am fully aware, however, of how important transport is for people with disabilities who attend day services. As a general rule, public transport should be used in all circumstances where it is an option. This is in keeping with the principle of mainstreaming with a clear focus on ensuring persons with a disability have access to the normal range of services and participate in community life as far as possible.

It must be noted that, in general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the free travel pass, meaning there should be no additional cost burden at an individual level. New developments being put in place to meet the service needs of school leavers with disabilities who require continuing HSE-funded supports each year will be located as close as possible to where people reside, to reduce the travel time for each person and enable them to be more connected with their local community. Funding is not provided to service providers for the transportation of young people to and from day services.

However, when all other options are exhausted and people cannot avail of a day service because they do not have transport to attend, the service provider is advised to use some of the service money to cover the transport costs. This may result in the provision of a reduced quantum of service to the service user. However, it is also my experience that the HSE will do its best to provide transport in certain cases without reducing services.

While day service users in receipt of disability allowance are automatically entitled to the free travel pass, I am also conscious of the fact that the travel pass is not worth much if there are no buses on which to use it. This may be the case in rural areas. I am also conscious of the social isolation which many people with disabilities feel on a daily basis.In that regard, I am pleased to see that the HSE has committed to establish a high-level cross-divisional working group this year to rationalise the provision of transport and to maximise equitable access and efficiencies. The HSE also intends to liaise with the National Transport Authority and disability service providers to explore ways in which the authority’s services could assist people with disabilities. I understand that the National Transport Authority has a total of 17 transport co-ordinating units called Local Link, which provide safe, secure and reliable public transport services in local and rural areas of Ireland through a combination of scheduled public transport services and door-to-door services. The HSE plans to explore the opportunities these units may provide to people with disabilities to access day services and allow them to fully participate in the social, educational and economic life of their own local communities.