INISHOWEN T.D.,Charlie
McConalogue has called for clarity on the future of
the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport
Grant. He said many people dependent on the payments
had contacted him in an "extremely distressed state"
about the ongoing uncertainty over the future of the
supports.
“The Government announced in February that they were
abolishing the Mobility Allowance and Motorised
Transport Grant, with the cuts due to kick in from
July last. This effectively meant a 20% reduction in
support for around 300 people with serious
disabilities across Donegal – support that allows
them to continue to live independently," said Deputy
McConalogue.
“These schemes were scrapped without any alternative
schemes ready to go in their place. Due to the
severity of the situation, the Mobility Allowance
had to be extended on a temporary basis. But there
is still no word on a longer term solution, which is
causing great distress to the hundreds of people in
Donegal and across this region who are dependent on
these payments." He said he had been informed that
Health Minister James Reilly was in discussions
about an alternative scheme. He urged Mr Reilly to
"sort this out once and for all and give the people
dependent on these two allowances some certainty
about their support in the future". |
