Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

While it is a HSE scheme I presume the regulations come from the Department of Finance. The definition of "disabled" genuinely needs to be reviewed. This argument is presented year after year and has not been reviewed which is grossly unfair. From a constituency perspective all of us know too many individuals who are genuinely disabled and unable to drive and need assistance but do not come within the confined terms of the scheme as being wholly or partially without the use of a limb or whatever. The scheme must be reviewed as promised by every Oireachtas Member for the past quarter of a century.

It would not be a enormous loss leader to the State in terms of lost revenue if it was made more adaptable and more accessible. It would allow people who simply cannot purchase a car, new or second hand, from a dealer or side garage showroom to make a purchase and adapt the car to provide some degree of dignity and transport for a family member. I appreciate the Minister of State will not rewrite the scheme today but I know he has a strong personal interest in the whole field of disability and ask him to take this on as a special project. To the shame of every party in the House and every Government, this commitment has been given time and again and broken time and again. It is not rocket science to determine whether a person suffers from a significant physical disability. There are people in their late 80s or early 90s who, fortunately, may not be without the use of a limb.

They certainly are disabled in broad terms, in not being able to drive and requiring some assistance. It would change such a driver's life if he or she could avail of such a grant to purchase a car to, at least, allow him or her a degree of dignity and independent travel capacity. Will the Minister of State attempt to put his stamp on changing this scheme? While it might seem to be a niche issue, reviewing it would result in significant life-enhancing changes for up to 10,000 people across the country. What the State might technically lose, a few billion euro would be repaid many times in good will and decency. Will the Minister of State take on the project of reviewing the scheme? The scheme needs to be reviewed and the definition of “disabled” expanded in a humane and common-sense way.