So much of life depends on who rather than what you know. Think about it – no matter what service you need – doctor, undertaker, butcher, agri contractor – you’ll go to somebody you know. Over time developing a relationship with them and, in turn, sending other business their way if the opportunity arises.
Given the two tenets which dominate my life above all others, having a disability and being a journalist, the above criteria apply tenfold over.
In one bracket because, obviously, being confined to a wheelchair, there will always be adaptations required to vehicles, living quarters and the Lord knows what else. And in the other category, you won’t get anywhere in media work unless you have an ‘in’ which allows you get that all important first bit published.
In my case, from that perspective, my break came courtesy of the Lynch family, the team behind Hoganstand.com. And, in terms of working with people in and around disability services, some years ago I was very fortunate to be pointed in the direction of DONAL MURTAGH MOBILITY in Moate, Co Westmeath by way of upgrading the vehicle which gets me from a to b to c. And it was one of the best strokes of luck ever to fall this way.
Not only in terms of the suitability of the range of vehicles in stock, but, more importantly, the customer service and hospitality my partner Susie and I have received in any of our dealings with Donal and his team.
Mind you, when the time came to investigate the upgrading process, there was even more gained from the visit than could have been anticipated.
Amidst the usual hospitable chit chit, Donal mentioned that he was part of a committee of, basically, vehicle converters who have been making exhaustive representations to the Department of both Finance and Transport in relation to changes the Government are proposing to make in relation to the grants/rebates available to disabled drivers or passengers and the purchase and/or conversion of vehicles to meet the needs of those who need them.
Up to press, in Ireland, as well as being exempt from road tax and road tax and VRT and an entitlement to claim back VAT on diesel, at present, there is also an entitlement to claim a rebate on expenses incurred in securing a conversion.
However, under the proposed new system, customers requiring any of the work or purchases outlined above will only receive one flat-rate payment in lieu of the costs generated having the conversion itself done.
With, seemingly no thought, afforded to running costs and capital overheads associated with the use and upkeep of such vehicles. It’s a bit like giving someone a gift voucher for a Chinese takeaway and then being told they don’t serve curry!
Now, in the interest of balance, it’s worth pointing out that the legislaters are only seeking to remedy a situation which has been flouted and exploited like snuff at a wake since God was a gasun.
It wasn’t always so. When my late father bought the first van to allow me attain maximum value out of my first powered wheelchair (spring/summer 1996), before any refunds could even be applied, inspectors from the Revenue Commissioners visited us to ensure, basically, (a) that I existed, (b) that the van existed and (c) that the work for which the rebate was being sought had actually been carried out.
Evidently, the rate of inspections has either dissipated or seized up completely because some bright spark in either Government department must have eventually twigged that they were being rode more than any horse that ever went up the Cheltenham hill.
That, however, shouldn’t give either departments or Revenue carte blanche to – knowingly or otherwise – penalise those who genuinely do require such services and avail of the aforementioned grant aid. Essentially the scheme which is currently in place works perfectly well if only it was policed properly.
It actually represents very like to ask on behalf of people with disabilities or their families/carers/PA’s comparative to how the equivalent framework in the UK is whereby nearly everything connected to adapted/converted vehicles for disabled persons – self drivers or passengers – is either directly fully funded or those with requirements to have such work carried out can be substantially rebated upon its completion.
What’s already in place here in Ireland is eons better than what the bureaucrats in and around Kildare Street are trying to foist on people in nothing more than a PR stunt at the expense of the most vulnerable in society. Anybody with any influence anywhere needs to inform them as such early and often at every possible opportunity.
Fág freagra