Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Members of the Regional Group for bringing this motion forward. Alarm bells have been ringing since the entire board of the disabled drivers medical board of appeal resigned last October, concerned that a large number of drivers applying for tax reliefs were being turned down. On average, less than 5% of appeals for primary medical certificates, which are necessary to apply for the scheme, are successful. For years Sinn Féin and other representatives have raised the problems with the disabled drivers and passengers scheme with the Minister for Finance. These include the rejection of applicants for the primary medical certificate, delays in decision making and qualifying criteria that exclude those with disabilities.

In June 2020, and Deputy Tully referred to this as well, the families of two children with disabilities won a Supreme Court appeal against the board for refusing them access to the scheme. The court noted that the problem is with the under-inclusive nature of the legislation. The scheme was then temporarily suspended before again taking assessments in January 2021. It is clear that the Minister failed to respond to repeated criticisms of the scheme. Ireland is in breach of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by not addressing the problem.

I urge the Minister and the Government to read the Ombudsman's statement to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters. Mr. Tyndall delivered a damning indictment of the current scheme. He said: "There is no doubt in my mind that these criteria are excessively restrictive and that the administration of this scheme has resulted in people who do not meet the criteria, but who are just as immobile as those who do, being excluded from the scheme". Since 2016 the Ombudsman has received 335 complaints about the criteria. That represents 335 individuals who are desperately trying to purchase or adapt a car for their use or the use of a family member. A 2002 report on the scheme to the Minister for Finance recommended that the medical criteria should be based on lack of mobility as opposed to medical criteria. This problem has been allowed to fester for more than 20 years and must be addressed immediately.

Deputy Berry spoke about toilets and platforms in train stations in County Kildare. I am inundated with complaints about Newbridge train station, where there are no toilets open for anybody.

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