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

This is urgent. The existing scheme dates back several decades. It is outdated. The terminology is outdated. It is not fit for purpose and we urgently need a new scheme. I support the thrust of what the Ombudsman has said in that regard. In my role, I have inherited a tax-based scheme which we will continue to operate until it is replaced by a new, more modern scheme. I have sought to change the existing scheme to meet the needs of a relatively small number of people who, in general, have to import a vehicle from the UK because the nature of the adaptations they require is very significant, they have to be done in the UK and the tax bill tends to be very large. We have managed to come up with a solution to that issue but there are more fundamental problems with the scheme overall.

The other issue for which I have direct responsibility is getting the appeals board back up and running. As the Deputies are aware, that has been beset with problems. The board resigned and then a process was gone through to get new members and so on. The National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, then withdrew from the scheme as the host of the appeals board. I acknowledge its engagement with my Department, however. I am confident we will get that back up and running very quickly. That said, however, it is not the end solution. The level of successful appeals is tiny, at only a couple of percent.

A new scheme is urgently needed. The Taoiseach has stated on the floor of the House that he will convene all relevant Departments, including the Departments of Health, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Transport and my Department. We have learned a lot from the existing scheme. There is a significant amount of knowledge. I was trying to work out a solution to the issue that presented for Leigh Gath and others. We engaged with the Irish Wheelchair Association, Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland, Revenue Commissioners and others. We looked back at the history of the scheme and the nature of the applications. There is a wealth of information there. Approximately 30,000 people are currently benefiting from the existing scheme but it is not an answer in itself. We need a new scheme and I will do all I can in my role to make sure that is brought forward as a matter of urgency.

See this speech in context