Disability mobility grant scheme
John Brassil welcomes ratification of the disability convention but asks when a new mobility allowance and motorised transport grant will start. The Taoiseach says a draft memo is ready, Cabinet approval is expected soon, and legislation will follow so the scheme can be funded next year.
The programme for Government committed to ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and I greatly welcome that this has happened. However, a commitment was also given to improve the lives of people with disabilities and to develop a new scheme for mobility allowance and a motorised transport grant. Eight months ago, the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, said the policy proposals were at an advanced stage. My question for the Taoiseach is when we will actually see a new grant scheme in operation.
Comment on this
There is a draft memo on this matter, which I saw myself only a week or two ago. It is intended that the memo to allow the legislation to be prepared will be brought to Cabinet next week or the following week jointly by the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath. Obviously, we then need to pass the legislation through these Houses. However, the intention is to do so in order that provision can be made in the Estimates for next year to bring it into effect.