Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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496. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28958/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I understand that the work of the Review Group to review Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant is nearing completion. The final report of the Review Group, which will include consideration of the wider issue of accessible transport, will be presented to Government in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday 12 June, the Government decided to extend payments of Mobility Allowance by the Health Service Executive to those currently in receipt for a further number of months, pending establishment of new statutory provisions to support the mobility needs of people with severe disabilities, on the basis that this will prevent hardship, and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society. The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who have relied on individual payments of Mobility Allowance to support their independence and will take all of this into consideration when making a decision on future arrangements.

Following detailed consideration of the Interim Report of the Review Group the Government has decided that new statutory provisions will be established to provide individual payments to people with severe disabilities who require additional income to address the costs of their mobility needs. The Government has agreed that an inter-departmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, will now be asked to develop detailed proposals for the operation of the new scheme or schemes, including eligibility criteria and administrative arrangements, and should report back to Government by October.

The existing position regarding the Motorised Transport Grant remains as before, i.e. the scheme remains closed. The inter-departmental group will examine this issue as part of its considerations of how future statutory arrangements should operate.

I have arranged for the individual case highlighted by the Deputy to be referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply to the Deputy.