Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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2067.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports available for people on disability in rural areas, to ensure that they can afford transport to hospital appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35843/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have responded separately to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question as regards the supports provided for people with disabilities through the Department of Social Protection. In terms of the Department of Rural & Community Development, I would add that the CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. Measure 2 of that funding programme provides funding for 'Mobility, Cancer Care, First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport Support'.

This measure is operated directly by my Department. It is open to established organisations/groups that operate on a voluntary basis and provide:

• transport to/from day care/other medical/therapy/respite services for those with significant mobility issues including requiring specialised wheelchair accessible vehicles;

• transport to/from designated cancer treatment hospitals/centres under the National Cancer Care Programme;

• Community First Response Support/Search and Rescue organisations;

• Meals on Wheels services.

The 2024 CLÁR programme is now closed for all measures and my officials are currently assessing all applications. I hope to announce the successful applications in the coming months. Since this measure was first introduced in 2018, my Department has provided funding of almost €8 million for the provision of over 150 vehicles.

Funding is also available under my Department's Community Recognition Fund for the purchase of community vehicles for a range of purposes, and local authorities have two further windows to make applications for funding under this Fund between now and the end of January, 2025.

My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) provides an employment subsidy towards the provision of local services by 430 community-based organisations, primarily in disadvantaged areas. This includes three organisations that provide accessible transport services for people with disabilities operating in the Greater Dublin Area, with over 50 posts funded to provide the transport services. There are no similar services funded in rural areas at present under the CSP programme.

Separately, the National Transport Authority and Local Link have supported community car initiatives in a number of locations across the country, which can also be of assistance in supporting access to hospital and medical appointments.