The little information we gleaned from this session was the exact methodology employed by the Department in assessing the numbers likely to avail of the Transport Grant, were it to be brought into line with equality legislation.
Working on Census 2011 information, the Department of Health found there were approximately 595,000 individuals living with a disability in the state.
Of these, the Department found, 20%, approximately 119,000, were in employment.
The Department then divided the total number of disabled people in employment by 50%, apparently to take account of the average industrial wage.
The average industrial wage is general estimate of a cut off point for eligibility, said the Department. That's a pretty arbitrary line to draw, but lets continue.
This provided the Department with a figure of about 59,000 individuals, which, give or take, supplies you with a grand total of about 19,000 claimants per annum, per rolling three year period.
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That's correct.
Because the Department of Health have somehow managed to obtain legal advice which has indicated that the Mobility & Transport Schemes must apply across the disability spectrum.
They contend that any attempt to limit payment to those who are physically unable to walk would impugn the Equal Status Act 2000.
So instead of using census data which indicates that only 10,000 (1.6%) of disabled people have difficulty working or attending educational facilities, the Department have been 'forced' to include all 600,000 individuals. Including, apparently, those who would never be in a physical or intellectual position to control a motor vehicle.
Peddling such nonsense is an insult to the disabled community.
By now the Department should no better than to expect them to swallow it.
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