The need to extend the scheme to provide financial assistance to people with disabilities for the purchase of a car was discussed on Tuesday by the Parliamentary Labour Committee. It was noted that the current plan does not cover children under 18 years old and adults over 70 years old, who enter a wheelchair-bound car with a wheelchair.
The issue was examined ex officio at the suggestion of EDEK MP Andreas Apostolou.
In statements after the Committee's meeting, its President, AKEL MP Andreas Kavkalias[/B], said that the provisions of the specific plan concerning the provision of financial assistance to people with disabilities violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was confirmed by both the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights and the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, both of which call on the executive branch to proceed immediately with the revision of this plan.
He added that the age restriction imposed excludes children under the age of 18 and adults over the age of 70, thus violating the principle of equal treatment, the principle of non-discrimination.
"It is unthinkable that a child with a disability or a person over 70 years old, who needs a specially adapted car, is not entitled to financial support, which in practice means that this person remains confined to their home many times," he said.
He added that the plan also seems to create discrimination among people with disabilities, since people with other forms of disability besides mobility and vision are not eligible to acquire a car.
Regarding the amount of the specific allocations, he said that the general finding is that with the revisions to the plan made in recent years, the amounts given to beneficiaries have also decreased.
EDEK MP Andreas Apostolou said that there is indeed a big problem regarding both the age limits that determine the purchase of a car for people with disabilities, but also the amounts given. He added that the costs are too high and people are either forced to buy disabled vehicles on their own or are forced to pay large amounts because the support amounts are small, about up to 9000 euros, he said.
He added that what was recognised by MPs and those present at the meeting is that the scheme should be extended and the age limits should be removed and the increase in the amounts given should be re-evaluated with the current value of the vehicles.
He added that before the memorandum an amount of 30% to 40% more was given than today, as disability organisations told them, and added that a plan should be made to improve the scheme.
He also said that thoughts and plans are being made, as they were informed by the relevant bodies, to expand the scheme.
Moreover, the Cyprus Paraplegics Organisation, in a statement, said that this scheme which was affected by the 2012 Memorandum, despite the rehabilitation that has been done, should be further strengthened to serve more people/families.
The Cyprus Paraplegics Organization recommends that the age limit for obtaining a regular car be extended to 75 years for people with physical disabilities who drive.
Also, that sponsorship amounts be increased by at least 30%. As mentioned, there are currently 3 categories of beneficiaries and €3,500 is given for people with disabilities, €4,500 for people in a wheelchair and €9,000 for those who will purchase a vehicle in which they enter in a wheelchair.
At the same time they are calling for a government loan scheme to be implemented for poor disabled people who cannot afford to borrow from a bank to buy a car
The issue will be re-examined in the Parliamentary Labour Committee both at its meeting on 28 June and on 13 September, when the Ministry's final positions on the revision of this plan are expected.
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