Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Nolan for raising this important issue. Everyone in the House can agree that we need to do all we can to ensure people with disabilities have independence and freedom and can take up employment, use a car, travel and do all of things we and they need to do. I do not have an up-to-date note on the primary medical certificate, but I will get more information for the Deputy as soon as I can. I know the Minister of Finance is seized of the matter. He has appointed new board members, as the Deputy mentioned, and is trying to get through the backlog of cases that need to be considered.

Of course, we can review the criteria to see if we can include more people. It is never an easy thing to do because no matter what the criteria or the rules are, there will always be people who do not qualify, no matter what scheme we set up. I take the Deputy's point that in some cases the rules are too harsh and perhaps being enforced too strictly. I will certainly discuss that with the Minister, Deputy McGrath.

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