Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the case of many people who are denied primary medical certificates. These are people with challenging physical disabilities which debilitate the use of their limbs. When they are denied a primary medical certificate they cannot avail of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme which provides a range of tax reliefs for the purchase and use of vehicles. I have raised this matter on a number of occasions with the independent Office of the Ombudsman, that is, with Peter Tyndall. He has examined the issue and has written to me. I am sure he has also written something similar to many Deputies in the House.His letter states:

I am concerned that this scheme, as currently framed, is overly rigid and inflexible and may well be causing inequity. A change in the legislation would be required to amend the scheme. Some time ago I raised these concerns with the Department of Finance which is responsible for the ... legislation. No amendments to the scheme have been made to date. In light of the volume and nature of the complaints which I continue to receive I wrote to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability Issues ... to express my concerns ... and to suggest that an amendment to the [legislation is required].

On the basis that the Ombudsman has stated loud and clear that an amendment to this legislation in respect of the scheme is required for people who are being locked out of the scheme, people with genuine disabilities, will the Tánaiste consider prioritising this as soon as possible?

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