Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason the mobility allowance was abolished without any indication given as to what would replace it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13837/13]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to cease the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes until such time as an alternative is put in place that is both compliant with equality legislation and provides at least equivalent support to all individuals qualifying under the said two schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13784/13]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health when a replacement for the mobility allowance will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13847/13]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if a deadline has been set for the putting in place of an alternative, equivalent and equitable scheme or schemes to replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13785/13]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the proposed new mobility grant alternative; the disability organisations that are being consulted; if the new proposal will be in place by 1 July; if current holders have to reapply or will their existing certificates be accepted in the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13640/13]

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the representative bodies involved in consultations relating to new schemes to replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if he will provide a timeframe for the introduction of a new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13954/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 75, 108, 157, 493 and 537 together.

The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who require transport supports from the State and also conscious of the position of the Ombudsman that the Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant schemes are illegal in the context of the Equal Status Acts. Minister Reilly and I considered the recommendations of the Ombudsman in relation to both schemes carefully and in particular, we looked at the potential cost of implementing the recommended changes. Any additional cost incurred by expansion of the schemes would have to be met from current expenditure and result in a reduction of front-line specialist disability, older people and mental health services for people who need them. It is clear that an extension of either scheme would create serious financial pressure on the health budget in the current climate and would be unsustainable.

Following detailed consideration of issues involved with Cabinet colleagues, the Government decided on 26th February that it is no longer possible to allow the two schemes to continue as they presently operate and to devise an alternative solution for meeting people's needs. A special review group, which is independently chaired, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. The initial phase of the group's work, which is led by the Department of Health, will concentrate on issues around Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant. Thereafter, the group will continue, under the leadership of a different Government Department, to look at opportunities for the enhancement of the transport options provided to the relevant persons in need. As part of the initial phase of the review, the Health Service Executive will examine the circumstances of all those currently benefiting from the schemes to ensure the identified solutions will encompass their priority mobility needs. In addition, the Minister for Health has instructed the HSE to contact each individual in receipt of the payments to notify them of this decision.

It is important to note that, although the Government's decision ends both schemes to new applicants with immediate effect, the payment of mobility allowance to those currently in receipt of it, will continue for a period of four months following the decision. It is also important to note that the decision is in no way intended to save costs and the funding involved in the two schemes (€10.6 million) remains committed to meeting the priority transport needs of people with a disability.

In advance of the establishment of the Project Group, Department of Health officials met with representatives of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association at my request. In addition, membership of the Project Group, which is independently chaired, is drawn from both the statutory and non-statutory sectors. The work of the Project Group is being supported by the National Disability Authority and includes representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, an independent service user and advocate for people with disabilities and a retired County Council Manager with relevant experience. Both Minister Reilly and myself have instructed the Project Group to seek solutions across the whole of Government, so that alongside representatives from the Department of Health and the HSE, membership also includes representatives from Pobal and from the Departments of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Environment, Community and Local Government, Social Protection and Finance.

The Project Group has already met twice and their next meeting is scheduled for 25th March. The Government decision includes a requirement that the results of the review will be presented to the Government before any final decisions are made on future arrangements.