Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Finance for an update on the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4611/24]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the meetings officials in his Department were involved in on the senior officials group in July, November and December 2023 with regard to considerations for replacing the disabled driver and passenger scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4542/24]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I rise this morning to discuss the review into the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. I would be grateful were the Minister to update the House on that body of work.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 156 together.

At the outset, the Deputy should note that the final report of the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group’s review of mobility and transport supports, including the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, endorsed proposals for a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme in line with international best practice that would replace the current disabled drivers scheme, as it is no longer fit for purpose on any and all aspects. The proposals note this was a clear deliverable for the near future. This group was chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Departments and Government agencies. Under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from the national disability inclusion strategy report and to map a way forward. My officials are proactively engaging with this senior officials group work as an important step in considering ways to replace the existing scheme, as one specific personal transport response, in the context of broader Government consideration of integrated transport and mobility supports for those with a disability. Three meetings of the senior officials group to which I referred have been held to date, in July, November and December 2023.

In relation to an update on the work of the senior officials group, the Deputy should be aware that my Department has submitted a note to the group with my approval in mid-January 2024. This note outlines a proposal for a replacement scheme for the disabled drivers scheme, which would be a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. This proposal is in line with the working group report that was endorsed.

It is expected that this note will be considered by the officials group at a meeting to be held shortly.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I appreciate that information and I welcome reforms in this area and the great work that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and her team have done on reform in the disabilities sector so far.

However, I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, on several occasions over the past year which at one point led to a three-month long back-and-forth with his private office that went nowhere.

I note the NDIS transport working group's final report. The Minister quite rightly referred to what they had stated, that is, proposals for a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme in line with international best practice that would replace the DDS, as it is no longer fit for purpose on any and all aspects, and this was a clear deliverable for the near future. No longer fit for purpose is straight from the horse’s mouth.

It is good to know that there have been three meetings so far and that the Minister has supplied a submission. When is the next meeting to be held? Do we have a timeline as to when they would take on board that submission and provide the necessary change?

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have a specific date for the next meeting but I expect it will take place shortly.

My own view, and I have put this on record on a number of occasions, is that there is a need for a new scheme. That was the central conclusion of the report. I do not believe the existing criteria for the primary medical certificate, which is the gateway or access point to the disabled driver and disabled passenger scheme, are appropriate. It should be a needs-based assessment. An expenditure scheme is much more appropriate.

That said, we have the disabled driver and disabled passenger scheme at present, which we will continue to operate. For the record, in 2023, the cost of that scheme was €72.5 million plus an additional €10.6 million for the fuel grant. Therefore, well over €80 million was spent on the existing scheme in 2023. For those who can avail of the scheme, it is very valuable. However, there are many who cannot who deserve some support.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I would agree.

I have raised this scheme with the Minister and the Taoiseach many times over the past 12 months on behalf of my constituents, Joe, and his carer, William, in Kilkee. The Minister agreed with me, and I note that he still does, but also the Taoiseach agreed with me. The Taoiseach stated it was ridiculous that just because they are not blood relatives, they are not eligible for this scheme. It is incredibly insulting. We all know our family is the family we choose and I would think that in the context of the constitutional change the Government is trying to implement at present, the Minister would be more sensitive to that.

I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is undertaking a body of work on this legislation. While I welcome that, it does not assist my constituents in their current struggle. As a direct result of these men not being able to avail of this scheme, Joe’s knee replacement continues to be delayed. With one stroke of a pen, that could be changed.

Every time I or other Deputies bring this issue up in the House, the person sitting in the Minister's seat states that he or she has constituents in the same predicament. If that is the case, surely the Minister would want to implement the change to this scheme that we badly need for these constituents.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.