I want to raise the issue of the mobility allowance, which was withdrawn in 2013. It is an issue that has been around for a long time, in particular how it was to be replaced and what mechanism was going to be put in place to do that. A proposal for a transport support payment scheme went to the Cabinet in May 2018 but went no further, and we are still where we are.

To give an example, a little girl I know, Billie, is three years old and suffers from brittle bone disease. She lives in Longford town and is being raised by her single mother. She has to go continually to appointments in hospital and for treatment, and there is no help or assistance. There was no crèche in Longford town that had space for her and she ended up going out to Drumlish, but she does not have transport to get there.

The core of the problem is that when a service like this is withdrawn, where there is an illness in a family, that family is condemned to poverty because of it. That should not happen in the society we live in today. There has been a commitment to do something about this but we have waited far too long. When will the mobility allowance be restored?

I call Deputy Cowen followed by Deputy Breathnach on the same matter.

This has been one of the most asked questions in this House over recent years. I heard the Taoiseach say earlier that previous Governments hammered disabilities. How long is it going to take the Government to honour the commitment it made on several occasions? The Taoiseach, as Minister, made the same commitment that he would find an alternative to that scheme to assist those who need the mobility allowance.

We have gone beyond a joke. Actions speak louder than words. This House needs to make a decision in regard to the issue of mobility. I would say there is not a Deputy who has not raised it on some occasion since I came into the House. The time for talk is over. It is time for action. If there is a will, there is a way to solve this issue. I know of a lady who has disabilities and who has a son with disabilities. Not alone can they not get insurance for a 12 year old vehicle, but they cannot even use it and there is no facility to give them the opportunity to have the mobility that is required.

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is actively considering options. It is important to say that the Government did not make a decision that this scheme needed to be ended. It was examined by the Ombudsman and found to be unfair. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, he has been engaging with disability groups to find the fairest way to proceed. Everybody who is on it has retained it and we do not want anybody who is on it to lose, but we also need to look at how we can reopen it. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, to revert to the three Deputies with a timeline. I know he has been working on it extensively. He has a number of options to consider and I would like to see it brought to a conclusion quickly.