Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. We do not have a definite date for the establishment of the medical board of appeal. I asked the Minister's predecessor, the current Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, this question a number of times. I have also linked it to the proposed review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme because the criteria to apply for a primary medical certificate to access the scheme are extremely stringent. That is why the board resigned at the end of November 2021. It was promised a review of the scheme some months prior to that, and when that did not happen the board resigned in total frustration.

Many people who apply for a primary medical certificate do not qualify because the criteria are so stringent. When they are refused the certificate, they appeal the decision. An appeal is only upheld if a person's condition has deteriorated significantly, which is generally as a result of a progressive condition.

Many people apply to the scheme because they do not have any other options open to them. The mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant were suspended in 2013, with a promise that a new scheme would be introduced shortly thereafter. Ten years on, we still do not have a new scheme. The system is inequitable because some people who applied and were approved for the scheme prior to 2013 and are still in receipt of the mobility allowance, while others, who should be able to avail of the scheme, are being denied access to it.

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