Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

Will the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance consider awarding primary medical certificates to persons with mentally disabilities and Down's syndrome under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994? I put this question to the Minister some weeks ago. I dislike categorising any individual but there are six categories under which one may qualify for a primary medical certificate whereby one can avail of a concession on vehicle registration tax, VRT, and motor tax. I ask the Minister to include in this categorisation the parents or guardians of persons with mental disabilities and sufferers of Down's syndrome. While such persons are entitled to drive when they become adults, they will never be able to do so and are entirely dependent on their parents or guardians for transportation.

Under the current regime, only persons who are missing at least one limb or have the medical condition of dwarfism qualify for the disabled drivers grant. Mentally disabled persons and those with Down's syndrome are entitled to this benefit. In Northern Ireland and Britain, for example, people with Down's syndrome qualify for the primary medical certificate whereby their parents or guardians can avail of exemptions on VAT and VRT on the purchase of a car. It would be a progressive step on the part of the Government to provide this benefit to parents who are primary carers of their mentally disabled or Down's syndrome children. Their lives are dedicated to providing for those children.

I understand the disabled drivers grant represents a significant expenditure for the State. The majority of people availing of the grant change their cars every two years. I accept that there are limited resources and that the cake is already divided among many beneficiaries. However, a legislative provision whereby recipients of the grant could change their cars only every four years rather than every two years would halve the cost to the State and facilitate the inclusion of the parents or guardians of persons with mental disabilities or Down's syndrome within the scheme. I strongly urge the Minister to consider such an amendment. Such persons are unlikely ever to be able to drive and are entirely dependent on their parents or guardians in this regard.

This would be a positive initiative on the part of the Government. I have seen parents dedicate their lives to their children with mental disabilities or Down's syndrome. Their inclusion in this scheme would provide support of which they are entirely deserving. Nobody would wish to see a return to previous times when children with mental disabilities and Down's syndrome were sent to mental institutions. The parents of these children want to care for them themselves and provide an important service to society in so doing. The State should support them where possible. They do everything for their children, bringing them to and from school, leisure activities and so on.

I applaud the work being done on behalf of people with Down's syndrome and other mental handicaps. I refer to sporting organisations like Special Olympics Ireland, for example. The proposal I have made, which would help to lift the burden on parents, would be a positive thing for the Government to do and would greatly help families. I accept that a limited amount of funding is available, although it could be divided better. People who are availing of the disabled drivers scheme will probably contact me in the morning to complain about what I am saying tonight. I feel very strongly that many more people could be accommodated under the scheme. It would be a positive step if the Government were to adopt the approach being taken in Britain and Northern Ireland.

See this speech in context