Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to the Seanad this morning. The motorised transport grant was a means-tested payment for people with disabilities who needed to buy a car in order to work. As the Minister of State and Members will be aware, in 2013, the Government closed the motorised transport grant to new applicants after the Office of the Ombudsman found those schemes’ eligibility criteria were in breach of the Equal Status Acts. An alternative fair and equitable replacement scheme was promised at the time, but more than a decade later, it has not been delivered. This issue was highlighted by the Ombudsman for public services in his annual report last year, when he criticised what he called a shameful lack of adequate support for drivers with disabilities.In particular, he highlighted the failure to replace the motorised transport grant.

In response to the report, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland rightly pointed out that the grants are not a social assistance but an economic enabler. For thousands of people with disabilities across the country, particularly those in rural areas, where there is a lack of public transport, the failure to replace this grant has had an enormous impact on their ability to gain employment. In 2024, it is intolerable and inexcusable that we are not fully supporting people with disabilities to be active and equal members of their communities. While costs should never be a barrier to the Government fully supporting those living with disability, the funding it would take to replace the motorised transport grant is minimal in terms of the Government budget, which makes it even more incomprehensible that the scheme has not been replaced.

Ireland is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, which places an onus on the signatories to "provide access to transportation on an equal basis to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life". The failure to replace the motorised transport grant means we are falling well short of that standard, which is unacceptable. As the Minister of State will be aware, the programme for Government contains a commitment to empower those with a disability and give them the ability to choose the supports that most meet their needs. That was a significant, important and welcome commitment, but we need action which gives life to those words and we need it immediately.