Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health his intentions regarding extending to blind persons the allowances in respect of mobility and motorised grants as disabled passengers associated with the disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23563/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. Both schemes remain closed. However the Government also decided that monthly payments will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed, on the basis that this would prevent hardship and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Programme for Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme.