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

We need to bring this to a conclusion and finalise the development of a replacement scheme. My role, as Minister for Finance, is to continue to operate the existing scheme and to use the information, experience and knowledge that we have gained in the Revenue Commissions and in my Department in the operation of the existing scheme to feed into the design of a new one, and that is what we are doing.

I have not stood still on this issue.

As the Deputy will know, last year, I introduced new regulations that established a fourth category of relief in the existing scheme, which provides up to €48,000 of relief for disabled drivers and €38,000 for disabled passengers. That was to address a very specific issue that is relevant for only a very small number of people, but it demonstrated a willingness to be flexible.

Nevertheless, it is not the full solution. The overall solution here will be a new scheme that is needs based and takes account of the individual circumstances of the applicant. The existing one is too rigid. There is a need for a new scheme and I will continue to support that process.

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