This article is from page 14 of the 2013-03-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A MOVE towards group transport for disabled people in County Clare may prove uneconomical in the future – as it would prevent disabled people from accessing employment and becoming tax-payers themselves.
That is is the opinion of a number of disabled Clare people who have been able to find work after accessing the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant.
One such person, Declan Considine from Kilmihil, believes he would never have been able to gain employment without the motorised Transport Grant.
“I did a course with NUI, Galway, and from that course I received a placement in the Civil Service. That placement was down in Clonakilty in Cork.
“I used the Motorised Transport Grant to help me to buy a car that would allow me to go to work every day. If there was no grant, there would have been no job for me,” he said.
“For the majority of people with disabilities, social welfare or a FÁS scheme is their only way of surviving.
“It would be virtually impossible for someone to purchase a car to get to education or work if it wasn’t for the help of this scheme. And without a car there is no chance of mov- ing on.”
Clare woman Anne Dunne says that group transport schemes – such as the one operated by the Disabled People of Clare (DPOC) – are not a sufficient solution to allow disabled people to live independent lives.
“Independence is a key issue for a person who is disabled. I had to go to the hospital last week. I booked transport with Disabled People of Clare (DPOC), who do a great job, two week ahead of time and they came back and asked me could I share a bus into Limerick that morning.
“The other person’s appointment was at a totally different time to mine – so what happens is that we are both in the hospital all day long, waiting hours for each other,” she said.
North Clare woman Anne Marie Flanaghan, says she would never have been able to find employment if it has not be for the schemes.
“I used to get the Mobility Grant and the Motorised Transport Grant and that helped me to get my first car.
“If it wasn’t for these grants I could not have gone to college and I wouldn’t have been able to get a job.
“Because I got this grant. I am independent today; I am working and paying taxes. I am now in a situation that I don’t need or qualify for the grant anymore and that is how it should be.”