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THE DECISION BY the Department of Health to axe two allowances for people with disabilities has been described as “appalling” by The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI)
In a statement last night the Department confirmed that the 4,700 people who receive a Mobility Allowance and 300 people who receive a Motorised Transport Grant will no longer receive these payments and will instead receive an alternative that is yet to be devised.
“It is important to note that the decision is in no way intended to save costs and the funding involved in the two schemes (€10.6 million) remains committed to meeting the transport needs of relevant people,” the Department said.
Both schemes have been closed to new entrants after the Department accepted that the two schemes – which barred entrants who are over 65 – were in breach of equality law – following a finding by the Ombusdsman Emily O’Reilly - but it said it would be too costly to widen both schemes.
DFI chief executive John Dolan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the news last night had come “out of the blue” and said the discontinuation of both schemes “strikes at the heart of people who are already struggling to make ends meet”.
Dolan said there had been “no consultation, no engagement” on the matter with disability groups.
He said that the Department of Health had been in contact with the Ombudsman about the breach of the Equal Status Act that the two payments created for the last four years but that no action to correct this anomaly had been taken.
He said that the Department of Health is a “sick bureaucratic monster” which is taking a “Bart Simpson approach”.
Dolan said the Department’s attitude was: “It’s always someone else’s fault that we have to screw people with disabilities to the floor.”
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It’s not really a quiz though is it.
That’s a bloody cockroach ?? Also the money is funny-4/10 disaster .
The front of a 10 euro.
Thanks David-must look at one the next time I get change in the shop,
8/10 that was easy
If it was so easy how did you get 2 wrong?
The money one looks like I thought it was….tablecloth!!! If it were 50′s I’d ave got it…maybe!
@Eileen Down: Tenners are like loose change to you then, eh?
Damn cockroach
Yes, I blame it for my score too. (throws out yoghurt).
7 out of 10 after a skin full of prosecco. Very proud of myself.
Fir the first time ever I get to be incredibly smug and say
10/10
10/10Top Dog. Is there any jobs out there you need this qualification for?
Writer for The Journal.
8 outta 10. I’m a clever cat. My highest score yet.
6/10, great. Damn that cockroach. What money is pink?
€10 note
Ah, thanks, Dave.
What pancake looks like a rotten carrot!!
La cucharacha, la cucharacha… de da de da da da…
€500 note. Have never seen a real one tho just pics…
@Fiona Fitzgerald:
The pink pound.
Learned the words to that cucaracha song when I was living in Spain, no joke it translates as;
The cockroach, the cockroach,
Now he can’t walk,
Because he’s missing, because he doesn’t have,
His two back legs!!
Ha!!
9/10 teabag got me
Pawsitively brilliant :)) I’m so happy :))
Hossy do some real journalism instead of copy and paste or poxy click bait, is that possible at “The Journal”
Surely we can do better than this lads for a quiz. C’mon it’s like you are not even trying
9. damn cockroach got me.
I’m fintastic at 6/10 bloody cockroch & money snookered me big time :-)
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