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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Transport support for disability services

Summary

Deputy Ó Caoláin asked how the health (transport support) Bill would help disabled day-service users who cannot access places because of transport costs. Minister of State Finian McGrath said the immediate St. Michael's House problem related to its own budget, while broader disability transport legislation was being finalised.

At least seven young adults with disabilities, who have been allocated day service places with St. Michael's House here in Dublin, are unable to access their places due to the absence of funding to cover transport. How is the health (transport support) Bill progressing? I understand this Bill will provide for a scheme to make individual payments as a contribution towards transport costs to people with severe disabilities on a low income who cannot access public transport. Does this Bill offer a means of addressing the transport needs of the St. Michael's House seven?

Comment on this

If I may respond to Deputy Ó Caoláin's question on the transport issue, it is a problem for St. Michael's House. I met the senior management of St. Michael's House recently to discuss funding and the amount of funding that has gone into the social care disability service plan for 2017. The budget for transport within St. Michael's House is taken from its own budget. On the broader issue of the motor transport Bill, I am trying to finalise Second Stage of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 in the Dáil today and hopefully Members will get that done and dusted. The Government is near completion in respect of the motor transport Bill on funding people with disabilities who have transport problems. As I said in response earlier, I hope to have that in the next couple of weeks. At the moment, I am trying to get the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 over the line. I am also trying to move quickly in the next couple of days on the Grace cases but I guarantee there will be movement.

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