Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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462. To ask the Minister for Health when he envisages an alternative to the motorised transport grant, which was discontinued in 2013, will commence and begin accepting applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2013 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. As a result, the Motorised Transport Grant has not been in place for over 3 years and there are no plans for its restoration on the basis of which it was previously operated. However, the Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments which support choice and independence. In that regard, monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance.

The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Department of Health. In that regard, I can confirm that work is at an advanced stage on policy proposals for the drafting of primary legislation for this new scheme. I anticipate that this will be brought to Government shortly.