Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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150. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her Department's plans for a person (details supplied) in County Cork with impaired mobility that uses the services of Cork Accessible Transport when they cease operation on 30 June; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26278/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Access to transport services for persons with mobility impairments is primarily as matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sports and the Health Services Executive. In a number of instances nationally, the Department, through the Community Services Programme (CSP), has been able to support the provision of services by community companies. Cork Accessible Transport Limited has provided services to people with mobility impairment for a number of years and has been supported under the CSP. .

The Department has recently been informed that the company plans to terminate the provision of services in Cork City from the middle of 2013 due to its board's concerns around the continued viability of the service and other operational challenges. The Department is prepared to consider proposals from an alternative community-based provider to deliver this service. As with all such proposals, questions of capacity to deliver, eligibility, financial viability and a range of other factors, including compliance with the evolving regulatory requirements, will need to be determined before any new service provider could receive funding support under the CSP.