Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will speak on this extremely important and well-meaning recommendation because it is important to provide clarification. To lay out for the purposes of the House, the purpose of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is to provide a review mechanism for those who have been assessed as not meeting one of the six disabled driver and disabled passenger scheme eligibility criteria by a HSE medical officer. While there were considerable issues with the board between 2021 and 2023, which a number of Senators who have an interest in this area will be familiar with, those issues have been resolved. For the information of the House, as of 31 October 2024, there are 482 appellants on the waiting list from an opening total of 1,007 appellants in December 2023. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I believe the current board, therefore, is operating effectively and this is reflected in the significant reduction of the waiting list. It is important to be aware that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the wider Department of Finance share concerns that the disabled drivers scheme is no longer fit for purpose and should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptions that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. This is very much a matter for the Government. While the Department of Finance has oversight over the disabled drivers scheme, it does not have direct responsibility for disability policy.