Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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1929. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the motorised transport grant will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20583/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant were put in place in 1979 and 1968 respectively, for operation by the Health Service Executive at a time when there was limited availability of accessible public transport.

The Government decided to close these administrative schemes in 2013 to new applicants, on foot of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts. In 2013, the Government decided to continue payment of the monthly Mobility Allowance on an interim basis, to those who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time that the Scheme closed. There were 4,700 individuals in receipt of the Mobility Allowance, at a cost of approximately €9 million per annum when the Scheme closed in 2013. There were 2,950 people in receipt of the interim payments in December 2024.

Currently, my Department is leading on the development of the next National Disability Strategy, which will be a framework for collaborative whole-of-government action on disability policy, including transport and mobility. Following a comprehensive public consultation process, ongoing engagement with a range of disability stakeholders and extensive cross-government collaboration, the Strategy is now at an advanced stage of development.

The next National Disability Strategy will build on work done under Action 104 of the previous National Disability Inclusion Strategy. Under Action 104, a Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to formulate proposals on how transport supports could be better coordinated across the state. The Final Report of the Group was published and is publicly available on the Departmental website.

The Department of the Taoiseach has convened a Senior Officials Group to discuss how the proposals of the NDIS TWG final report can be progressed. The SOG outcomes will form a key part of ongoing work for the development of transport-focussed actions under the next National Disability Strategy.

I am aware that the Department of Transport and its Agencies are also increasing access to public transport services by spearheading several initiatives focused on reducing the cost of public transport services. Collectively, these measures will benefit all members of society, including those with hidden disabilities.