Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

To be honest, it is not even about knowing the exact amount. We are talking about €2.1 million, which is significant amount of money for most people.

Pensioners, in particular, have been coming to my clinics extremely worried about what impact this price change will have. In Galway city, where I live, 15% of people are being impacted by it. This all represents a huge waste of taxpayers' money.

I am conscious of time. It was indicated that the Department has made savings of €120,000 from the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal being out of operation for a year. I take the opportunity to highlight two issues that have been raised with me. The Minister of State might make sure the Government is aware of them. In September, I raised with the then Minister the case of a young man whose arm was amputated as a result of cancer treatment. He has had to give up a significant degree of independence as he cannot qualify for the disabled drivers scheme because he still has use of the other arm. That seems bonkers. The other issue raised with me is how the scheme is failing Irish speakers. An older woman came to me who was trying to do the assessment through English even though Irish is her main language. She was forced to travel to Dún Laoghaire from a location in the middle of nowhere in Connemara, very far from Galway city. I ask the Minister of State to take those two issues back to the Tánaiste.