Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is familiar, as we all are, with the excise rebate scheme to persons who qualified for the disabled drivers scheme. That was deemed to be illegal by the European Court of Justice. We had to replace it with something that would be deemed to be legal and therefore are introducing a grant scheme where a grant of the equivalent amount is being awarded in respect of fuel excise costs during the relevant period. The payment is made retrospectively.

The Deputy is correct that the payment does not extend to all areas of disability. The scheme is designed specifically for persons with severe physical disabilities in recognition of the significant cost associated with adapting a vehicle for the transport of persons with certain disabilities.

I have considered the scheme criteria on a number of occasions but the cost of extending it is prohibitive at this point and certainly was over the past couple of years. I know a good case can be made and it is something we may consider again in future.

Organisations which look after disabled people must have a No. 4 primary certificate.