Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I know is one of serious concern to those who are directly impacted. I am anxious to see progress now quickly in getting the disabled drivers medical board of appeal back up and running. I do believe that we are almost there. Garda vetting for all five candidates has recently been completed. All have been nominated by the Minister for Health and Department officials are in the process of finalising the details so that the formal appointment can take place. I expect that very shortly we will have the medical board of appeal back up and running. However, as the Deputy says, that is only one issue here.

The other issue is related but more fundamental. It is about the nature of the scheme and the review of it committed to by my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. The Deputy has acknowledged the work the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, have led. They agreed in autumn 2021 that the review of the scheme should be incorporated into the work of the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group. I understand that working group held a series of meetings across last year and a draft final report was considered at its final meeting on 8 December 2022. I have not yet received the report but I have discussed it with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and am told it will be completed, furnished to my Department and published imminently. In terms of the future of the scheme, I look forward to reviewing that report. There is a need for reform. We have all experienced that in dealing with individual cases. It remains to be seen what the report recommends.