A mobility allowance is a social security benefit for people who are unable to walk, or have difficulty in walking.
13-408: A Mobility Allowance was established in 1979 for people between 16 and 66. It is paid monthly at a rate of 208.50 per month. There are in excess of 4,700 recipients of mobility allowance at an annual cost of over 9 million. There is also a Motorised Transport Grant for people with a severe disability who need to purchase or adapt a car where that car is essential to retain employment. The maximum grant
26-807: A constitutional guarantee of independence from the Government, similar to that enjoyed by the Comptroller and Auditor General . This appeal was reiterated by her successor, Peter Tyndall . There are other ombudsmen established in Ireland relating to particular sectors: All these offices are statutory and their holders are public servants. Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform ( Irish : Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí, Seachadta ar an bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta, agus Athchóirithe )
39-903: Is ex officio a member of three statutory oversight bodies: the Commission for Public Service Appointments , the Electoral Commission , and the Standards in Public Office Commission . The Ombudsman holds the office of the Information Commissioner (and Commissioner for Environmental Information) by separate appointment, and since January 2023 is ex officio also the Protected Disclosures Commissioner. The Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 provided for
52-489: Is 5,020 payable once in any three year period. More than 300 people receive the grant each year at an estimated cost of 1.3 million. The ombudsman recommended that the age limit be removed and the definition of disability should be broadened to include all those with physical, intellectual, sensory or mental health disabilities. The General Disability Pension scheme includes a mobility component for people who have impairments in their legs which limit their mobility. There
65-695: Is a department of the Government of Ireland . It is led by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform . The department was established in July 2011, and took over the functions of Public Expenditure from the Department of Finance . The department is also responsible for overseeing the reform of the Public Sector. The headquarters and ministerial offices of
78-524: Is an officeholder and public servant whose role is to examine complaints from members of the public who believe that they have been unfairly treated by certain public service providers. The current ombudsman is Ger Deering. The Office of the Ombudsman was set up under the Ombudsman Act 1980, commenced in 1983. The first ombudsman, Michael Mills, took office on 3 January 1984. The functions of
91-514: The age of 5 and under 65 were introduced by the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 . To qualify a person had to be unable or virtually unable to walk, or the effort of walking would be seriously dangerous and this condition had to be likely to persist for at least 12 months. This only applied to physical disabilities. Ability to walk was assessed with the claimant using artificial aids if appropriate. The Motability scheme
104-595: The department are in Government Buildings , Merrion Street , Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following: The department took over two of the six divisions within the Department of Finance. They are: The department has 11 divisions: The department was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 with Brendan Howlin as its first minister. Since its establishment,
117-545: The office were amended by the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012. The ombudsman is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of both Houses of the Oireachtas . The ombudsman deals with complaints against providers of public services including Departments of State , local authorities , the HSE, publicly funded third-level education bodies, nursing homes and direct provision accommodation centres. The Ombudmsman
130-797: The other measures being the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Freedom of Information Act 2014, the Registration of Lobbyists Act 2015 and the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015. In the 2012 Annual Report, the Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly argued strongly for constitutional status to be conferred on the Office of the Ombudsman, with
143-464: The statutory protection of the title of Ombudsman. The 2012 Act 2012 approximately 200 additional public bodies under the scrutiny of the Ombudsman. The Act also designated the Ombudsman as Director (Chief Executive) of the Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments. The Act was the first in a series of public service reform measures by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform ,
SECTION 10
#1732801371405156-459: Was a mobility component to unemployment benefits in Italy but it was abolished in 2012. Invalid vehicles, usually single seat three wheelers, were given to disabled war pensioners from 1921. After 1945 war pensioners assessed at more than 20% disabled could opt for a small car instead, and this option was extended to a few other disabled people from 1964. Mobility allowance payments for people over
169-576: Was launched in 1978. This permitted claimants to exchange their weekly benefit payments for a new leased vehicle. In 1987 the value of the benefit was £22.10 per week. A higher rate of £24.55 was payable to war pensioners. Benefit stopped at the age of 75. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 , integrated Mobility Allowance with Attendance Allowance into a new benefit, Disability Living Allowance for people under pension age. Ombudsman (Ireland) The Ombudsman in Ireland
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