Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I reassure her that the Minister for Health has made the appointment of the five members of the board of appeal. Garda vetting is being completed and that is why I am hopeful. I understand the board will be up and running in the next few weeks.

Assessments for the primary medical certificate by the HSE are continuing to take place. I acknowledge that there are a lot of appeals awaiting processing. There are currently 759 people awaiting an appeal hearing, with 382 of those dating to 2021. I am anxious that we make progress on this issue. I recognise the value of the scheme and what it means to people.

As the Deputy is aware, my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, committed to a comprehensive review of the scheme under the auspices of a broader review of mobility support. In order to achieve this, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, agreed in September 2021 that the review of the scheme should be incorporated into the work of the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group. The working group, under the chairpersonship of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, held a number of meetings last year. A draft report was considered at its final meeting on 8 December 2022. It is being finalised and it is expected that it will be published soon. I assure the Deputy that I will give this matter my personal attention to try to move it on.

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