The Department of Health has been described as a ‘sick, bureaucratic monster', following its decision to scrap two travel allowances for people with disabilities with immediate effect.

According to John Dolan, CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland, the decision to scrap the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant came with no warning.

Currently, around 4,700 people receive a Mobility Allowance. It is aimed at people with a severe disability who cannot walk, but who would benefit form trips outside the home. The payment is up to €208 per month.

Some 300 people receive a Motorised Transport Grant. This is a means tested HSE payment made to people with disabilities who need to purchase a car in order to retain employment. It is also aimed at people with disabilities who need to have a car or other vehicle adapted, again for the purpose of having a job.

Late last year, the Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, said that the Department of Health had been acting illegally by failing to remove the upper age limit of 65 years on the Mobility Allowance.

A few weeks later, the department was again criticised, this time for its handling of the Motorised Grant. The Ombudsman found that the HSE's operation of this grant ‘reflected an approach to disability which is unduly restrictive, improperly discriminatory and fails to have proper regard to the Equal Status Acts'.

The department said that in view of this, it is ending both schemes with immediate effect.

"Following detailed consideration of issues surrounding both schemes, the government has decided that it is no longer possible to allow the two schemes to continue as they presently operate and to devise an alternative scheme for meeting people's needs," it said.

It insisted that this decision ‘is in no way intended to save costs'. The funding involved - €10.6 million - ‘remains committed to meeting the transport needs of relevant people', it explained.

However, it also said that it is not possible ‘to expand these schemes in such a way to achieve compliance with the Equal Status Acts without incurring very significant additional costs'.

"Meeting such costs would result in a requirement for severe service cut backs in current disability, older people and mental health services and this is not something which either the Minister for Health or the Minister of State consider practical or fair," the department said.

People currently in receipt of the Mobility Allowance will continue to receive it for another four months. Payments will then stop. Anyone who has applied for the scheme up to now will have their application processed and if they qualify, they will receive the allowance up until the payments cease in four months time.

In relation to the Motorised Grant, applications already received will be processed and if they fill the criteria, the payment will be made. No new applications will be accepted however.

The department said it has already started a consultation process, ‘meeting a range of groups representing persons affected by this decision'. This is despite the fact that Mr Dolan of the Disability Federation described the decision as ‘shocking' and ‘out of the blue'.

The department said that a ‘special review' will now be implemented ‘to seek an alternative method to provide for the needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts'.

It added that the government is ‘very conscious' of the many people who cannot access public transport and are therefore reliant on the allowance and grant.

"In particular, it is recognised that some people rely on such supports to enable them to participate in employment, where a public transport solution is not available.

"Accordingly, the review will include an examination of how best to support the transport needs of those persons with disabilities who cannot readily access public transport. The review will also look at how such matters are addressed internationally."