Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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389. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that all elderly persons with severely limited mobility and living in isolated rural areas with poor public transport services were entitled to be considered for motorised transport grant while that grant was open to new applicants, and that eligibility was not restricted solely to those requiring a car for the purposes of travelling to and from employment.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43509/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Motorised Transport Grant Scheme, which was abolished on 26th February last, was a grant payable by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to successful applicants, over the age of 17 years, towards the purchase of a vehicle and/or adaptations to a vehicle, where the vehicle was essential to retain employment. The scheme, as it then operated, had no upper age limit. Apart from the "retain employment" condition, the eligibility criteria included an Exceptional Circumstances clause for persons with a severe disability who lived in isolated circumstances and for whom the severity of their disability prevented the use of public transport.

In 2012, the Ombudsman carried out an investigation in relation to a complaint regarding the refusal by the HSE to grant a person a Motorised Transport Grant. Arising from her investigation, the Ombudsman made recommendations to the HSE regarding the Motorised Transport Grant scheme. On foot of the recommendations by the Ombudsman the HSE established a working group, to review the Motorised Transport Grant. As part of this work, the HSE reviewed the guidelines for the assessment of Exceptional Circumstances. The HSE issued National Guidelines for the Assessment of Exceptional Circumstances under the scheme in March 2013 to ensure a consistent national approach in respect of those applications which had been received in advance of the 26th February 2013 and were under consideration or appeal. I will arrange for a copy of the guidelines to be sent to the Deputy.