Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health the mechanisms being put in place to cater for persons who formerly received the mobility allowance; the plans that exist to introduce a new regime or when it is envisaged that such a regime might be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16934/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Mobility Allowance payment continues to be made to recipients of the allowance prior to it being closed last year. Those individuals continue to receive the same payment on a monthly basis, as before.

In November 2013, the Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new travel support payment and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department of Health is working to progress this matter and will draw on the work, last year, of the Review Group on Transport Supports for People with Disabilities and the Inter-Departmental Group tasked by Government to consider this matter. Work is ongoing at the present time on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme.