Workers Party Councillor Ted Tynan will table an emergency motion at a HSE South Forum meeting at Cork County Hall this afternoon (Thursday) condemning the government’s decision to abolish both  the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant for people with disabilities and demanding the immediate reversal of the decision.

The HSE South Forum covers all of counties Cork, Kerry, Tipperary South, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford

Cllr. Tynan said that the axing of the grants was cruel and selfish, and he agreed with the comments of the various disability groups and health professionals who had pointed out the real hardship which this decision will cause to a small and vulnerable minority.

While noting that both existing schemes, as operated by the Department of Health, had been declared illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Equal Status Act,  a very sensible solution had been proposed by the Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, namely that the schemes be immediately expanded to candidates over the age of 65.

“I cannot accept the claim by Ministers Reilly or Lynch that they agonised over these cuts before making them.  The only real agonising coming from this government comes in relation to cutting the salaries of senior bankers and government ministers.  If they really agonised over these cruel cuts they would have done the decent thing and not made them”

Issued 28th February 2013