Irish Government Moves Assistance for Disabled Back Decades

A bombshell decision to cut transport funding for the disabled of Ireland, under two separate programs, will effectively institutionalize hundreds of people with multiple sclerosis. In an amateurish political move the likes of which I haven’t seen since my days of high school student council, the government announced the sudden end to a needs-tested grant for mobility and transport. I’ll explain my assessment of the decision as “amateurish” in a moment, but first the damage. The Mobility Allowance is a small stipend (just over 200 Euro per month) given to people who are unable to work or walk (wheelchair-bound) or, due to their severe limitations, unable to use public transport in order for them to use private transport companies to get them to medical appointments, shopping, church and the like. About 4700 Irish rely on this Allowance which is to be cut immediately, leaving these people stuck without a way to get out of their homes. Second, the Motorized Transport Grant assists (again, means-tested) people with severe disabilities who still may be able to work a grant to help purchase specialized vehicles or to modify cars/vans so they are able to continue working and stay independent. An estimated 300 people with disabilities receive this grant. This program will pay for 4 more months but, like the Mobility Allowance program, will cease accepting new applicants straight away. Both of these programs are flawed as one is age-limited and the other has excessively stri...
Source: Life with MS - Category: Other Conditions Authors: Tags: MS Politics healthcare disabled health care Ireland Source Type: blogs