Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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252. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance and motorised transport schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24566/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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A Project Group, which is independently chaired by a former Civil Servant, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the priority transport needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. The work of the Project Group is being supported by the National Disability Authority and includes representatives from key disability sector organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Centre for Independent Living, along with an independent service user and advocate for people with disabilities and a former 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 Health Service Executive (HSE), membership also includes representatives from Pobal and from the Departments of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Environment, Community and Local Government, Social Protection and Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.

The Group, who will report to Government by the end of this month, has met six times, with the next meeting scheduled for 22nd May. The results of the review will be presented to the Government before any final decisions are made on future arrangements. At this stage, I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of Government.