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

I thank the Deputies. As well as being a Minister in a Government, I am a practising TD and deal with individual cases all the time. That has helped me to reach the conclusion that the existing scheme is not the best way to address the needs of persons with a disability, whether they are drivers or passengers. It is a tax-based scheme. The gateway criterion entails eligibility for the primary medical certificate. We are all aware of the details of that. A new scheme is needed but it should be based on the needs of the person concerned and be grant based. There is work under way across the Government. The key Departments are working on this and the work is being co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach. That is to bring a focus and urgency to the issue. In the meantime, my officials and the Revenue Commissioners will continue to ensure the existing scheme operates. We have worked hard to get the appeals board back up and running and we anticipate that it will recommence hearing appeals in the first half of December. That is welcome because there is a backlog, with over 1,100 appeal cases waiting to be heard. The board, in itself, is not the solution to the issue because the success rate regarding appeals is very low given the nature of the eligibility criteria, which are so defined and not based on individual need. We will continue to play our part in my Department, but it does require all other relevant Departments working together on the process that is under way to have a new scheme agreed.

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