Sir, – The Minister for Health says the State cannot afford to widen the eligibility for the mobility allowance for people with disabilities (Paul Cullen, Home News, February 7th). However, there are people with disabilities who have significant costs associated with travel and this payment is vital to support their independent living.
Money did not solve this problem in the past, so the lack of it in the Department of Health has nothing to do with solving the issue now.
The fact that Ireland is in a bailout programme does not weaken the State’s obligation to provide essential services to people with disabilities. If this Government wants people to access employment through the upcoming employment strategy, to move people out of congregated settings back into the community and to access mainstream services that are essential for their quality of life, this payment has to be maintained.
The implementation of this scheme requires Government departments to communicate with each other and to work together. The Minister needs to realise that the National Disability Strategy, a cross-departmental strategy which this Government has committed to implementing, is the solution to this issue.
It is disappointing that the Department of Health and the Minister are not thinking outside the box on an issue that will only come back to haunt them.
The excuse of not being able to afford it is not the easy way out on this issue, as a country we simply cannot afford not to make these investments. – Yours, etc,