Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
636. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that people with disabilities using day services in CHO1 are subject to a €4 daily transport charge; if those using day services in other CHOs across the country are subject to such charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15109/25]
View answerWhile HSE Day Services funding does not extend to transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis where resources permit, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists. In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
My Officials are engaging at a senior level with colleagues across government to map out next steps towards the development of the next National Disability Strategy. This Strategy will provide an ambitious framework for disability policy across the next five years, including in relation to transport and mobility for disabled people. The new Strategy will build on work done under Action 104 of the previous National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS). Under Action 104, a Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to formulate proposals on how transport supports could be better coordinated across the state. The Final Report of the Group was published and is available on my Department’s website.
The Department of the Taoiseach has convened a Senior Officials Group to discuss how the proposals of the NDIS Transport Working Group final report can be progressed. My officials are engaging and actively contributing to discussions on this matter, and outcomes will form a key part of ongoing work for the development of transport-focussed actions under the next National Disability Strategy.
