Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Maybe it is something that we can look at in terms of the type of consultancy that is being provided under subhead A4. Perhaps the Minister can give us a list detailing where the money was spent last year in terms of the contracts - not now, if that is okay. It can be given to the committee to save time, so we do not have to go through lists and details.

I note that €350,000 is also being allocated to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. This is an issue that I have raised with the Minister and his predecessor for many years. It is causing serious anxiety among the public. Thankfully, the board of appeal is up and running again but the allocation is less than half of what it was in 2023. It was €771,000 and it is now down to €350,000, which is a significant reduction. The board and the scheme more generally have been beset by problems, as the Minister will be aware, and is due to replaced at some stage by a grant-based scheme. Is the reason for this reduction that the Minister expects the scheme to be introduced in 2024? What is the rationale for it?