Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Finance the current status of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; the number of appeals awaiting assessment; if an indication of a timeframe to clear the backlog of appeals is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7260/24]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have now formally appointed all five members to the new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) and appeal hearings recommenced in the first half of December 2023.

I appreciate that it has taken far longer than anticipated to get to this point. In this regard four Expression of Interest campaigns have had to be run over 18 months to source the legislatively required five members. Officials have also had to re-negotiate new hosting arrangements with the NRH following their withdrawal of services in February 2023.

As of 13 February 2024 there are 923 appellants on the waiting list. 169 appellants have been assessed since the appeals process recommenced. The Board has prioritised the waiting list using clinically-based criteria. They are working to address the backlog as quickly as possible.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Finance for an update on the provision of a fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme to replace the disabled drivers and passengers scheme; if a timeframe is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7261/24]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the final report of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group's review of mobility and transport supports including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passenger’s Scheme (DDS), endorsed proposals for a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme in line with international best practice that would replace the DDS.

The Working Group was chaired by Minister Anne Rabbitte and led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

Access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Government departments and agencies. Consequently under the aegis of the Department of Taoiseach officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from the NDIS report and to map a way forward.

My officials are proactively engaging with this Senior Officials Group's (SOG) work as an important step in considering ways to replace the DDS, as one specific personal transport response, in the context of broader Government consideration of holistic, multifaceted and integrated transport and mobility supports for those with a disability. Three meetings of the group have been held, in July, November and December 2023.

The Department of Finance has recently submitted a note to the group with my approval in mid-January 2024. This note outlines a proposal for a replacement scheme for the DDS which would be a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. This proposal is in line with what the NDIS Transport Working Group Report endorsed.

It is expected that this note will be considered by the SOG at a forthcoming meeting of the group.

Finally the Deputy should be aware that while my Department has oversight of the DDS, it does not have responsibility for disability policy, so any decision to put in place a new scheme to replace it will be a matter for Government.