Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, for attending the Seanad to listen to my concerns about the primary medical certificate and how it is issued, as well as the scheme to which it applies in the qualification of people with severe disabilities under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. We know that it provides relief from vehicle registration tax, VRT, VAT and motor tax to assist people with disabilities in the provision of transport so as to improve their mobility which we all agree is very important. I am sure the Minister of State will agree with me as people in his constituency may have applied for the primary medical certificate. They are people with very severe disabilities, but, unfortunately, some of them have been turned down.

I will explain why I am seeking a review of the primary medical certificate process and how people qualify under it. The qualifying criteria have been in place since the 1980s. There are six very strict criteria. Essentially, one must be without limbs or the use of both arms to qualify. The Minister of State and I, with many others, know people with severe disabilities who are wholly without the use of their limbs but who still do not qualify for receipt of the primary medical certificate. It causes much stress, anguish and frustration for people with disabilities.

I will quote one case in which I have been involved for some time. A young, 22 year old lady has had her life shattered by a chronic spinal condition, a degenerative disc disease called congenital spinal stenosis. It started when she was 17 years old. Already in her young life she has had three failed surgeries, two lumbar disectomies and instrumented spinal fusion on two levels. She has been left with intractable pain in both of her legs and back, resulting in significant mobility issues. She has been prescribed an horrendous amount of opioid medication that leaves her bedridden for most of the day and which is taking a toll on her internal organs. She was attending a degree course at the National University of Ireland, Galway, but she has been unable to return because of her spinal condition, as it brings chronic pain, there are serious mobility problems and she is on medication.

Despite all of this, an application was made for a primary medical certificate and she was devastated to discover that it had been refused. It was her one hope she would receive some support to improve her mobility, well-being and independence by being able to drive an adapted car. She uses two crutches to get around the house and a wheelchair outside it. It is really frustrating for her and her family. I undertook to try to assist her and have written to the Minister of State with responsibility for people with disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath. who, in fairness, has offered support, but he has also said he is restricted by the scheme in place. Therefore, I ask for the review of the scheme for genuine cases involving a serious disability. A review is long overdue, as the scheme was introduced in the 1980s. I am interested in hearing the Minister of State's comments.