Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Finance if sufferers of osteitis pubis are entitled to a primary medical certificate under the Disabled Drivers, Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27167/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The medical eligibility criteria for the purposes of the tax concession under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. In order to qualify under the scheme, a person must be "severely and permanently disabled" and satisfy one of the following criteria: "a) persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; b) persons who are wholly without the use of one of their legs and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that they are severely restricted as to movement of their lower limbs; c) persons without both hands or without both arms; d) persons without one or both legs; e) persons wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg; f) persons having the medical condition of dwarfism and who have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs."

Where the required certificate is refused, the applicant can appeal to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, an independent statutory body, for a complete medical re-assessment. The decision of the board is final.