Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been brought to the long delays for appeal assessments by the disabled drivers medical board of appeal; and if he will make available adequate resources to enable the board of appeal to deal with appeals within a reasonable time. [18377/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the issue of delays for appeal assessments by the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, I wish to inform the Deputy that following a period of difficulty in organising sufficient meetings of the Medical Board of Appeal, I reconstituted the Board in early 2005, and have incrementally expanded the panel of doctors from three to seventeen members. This facilitated more frequent meetings of the Board thus enabling progress to be made in reducing the backlog of appeals that had arisen.

A new Chairperson and Secretary to the Medical Board of Appeal have recently been appointed. New appointments to replace some recently resigned/retired members will also be made. This should facilitate the resumption of progress in reducing the waiting time for assessment of appeals.