Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The disabled drivers scheme was established in 1968. Under section 43 of the Finance Act of that year, relief from road tax is offered to people with a disability who meet specific medical criteria. The scheme has been extended and amended on a number of occasions since then. The benefits of the scheme for those who qualify are set out in the 1968 Act. Such people are entitled to full vehicle registration tax and VAT relief in the relevant tax year when they purchase an adapted vehicle, subject to limits of €9,525 for a qualifying driver and €15,875 for a qualifying passenger or organisation. In the case of passengers, there is a requirement that the adaptation to the car must amount to at least 10% of the cost of the car. In the case of both drivers and passengers, the vehicle must be retained for at least two years. Those who avail of the scheme are also entitled to an exemption from road tax.

The average total annualised value of these benefits is estimated at around €5,500 per claimant. In the year of purchase of a car, a claimant receives benefits relating to the purchase of the car and road tax. In the other years, the benefits received relate solely to road tax. The regulations also provide for the inclusion in the scheme of non-profit organisations involved in the transport of people with a disability. The most recent data available from the Revenue Commissioners for the overall scale and scope of the scheme show that the total number of claimants in the system in 2007 was approximately 12,500 — some 4,750 drivers and 7,750 passengers. The total cost of the scheme in 2007, excluding road tax, was €66 million. That figure increases to €74 million when road tax is included.

All Deputies come across genuine cases. This issue has been discussed on several occasions since I was first elected to this House. The regulations governing the scheme have been amended and adjusted. I accept that the reply that has been circulated is a standard one. It might not seem to get to the core of the case made by Deputy Sheahan. Strict medical criteria are set for qualification for this generous scheme, which is not open to all people with a disability. It is available to those who have certain serious permanent physical disabilities which result in considerable mobility difficulty. The Deputy has outlined broadly the six categories of disability which are covered in the scheme. A fundamental requirement for admission to the scheme is that the applicant meets the specified medical criteria and is in possession of a primary medical certificate to that effect. A person who is deemed to satisfy the criteria is given a certificate by the senior medical officer of the local HSE area. Possession of a certificate qualifies the holder to claim the benefits of the scheme as a qualifying driver or passenger.

In some cases, those who apply do not appear to the senior medical officer to meet the criteria and the certificate is therefore refused. The legislation provides for an appeals procedure, operated by the disabled drivers medical board of appeal, when a certificate is not granted. The board is an independent body and its decision is final. Its members are appointed by the Minister for Finance, on the nomination of the Minister for Health and Children. Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to improve the level of service offered when appeals are made. Further work is needed in this regard. Following a period of difficulty in organising sufficient meetings of the medical board of appeal, the board was reconstituted in early 2005. The number of people on the panel of doctors has been incrementally expanded from three to 15 since that date. This has facilitated more frequent meetings of the board.

I was not aware until Deputy Sheahan mentioned it that children and adults with Down's syndrome are covered by the schemes which operate in Northern Ireland and England. I will bring that to the attention of the Minister. This country's scheme is very generous for people in the six categories who qualify for it. Those who benefit from the scheme can change their cars every two years. This generous scheme costs quite a bit. It is very helpful for those who qualify. I accept that it may seem to those who do not qualify that the scheme is mean, miserable and tight. I will bring the point made by the Deputy about Down's syndrome to the personal attention of the Minister for Finance, who will see if changes can be made.

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