John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 97: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the situation in relation to VRT free cars for disabled persons; if the facility is available to blind persons; if not, if he will reconsider as blind persons need total assistance and must have a separate driver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18360/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit.

The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. To get the Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be severely and permanently disabled and satisfy one of the following conditions:

(a) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

(b) be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

(c) be without both hands or without both arms;

(d) be without one or both legs;

(e) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

(f) have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of the Disabled Drivers Scheme. The terms of reference of the Group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with a view to assisting the Minister for Finance in determining the future direction of the scheme.

The Group's Report, published on my Department's website in July 2004, sets out in detail the genesis and development of the scheme. It examines the current benefits, the qualifying medical criteria, the Exchequer costs, relationship with other schemes and similar schemes in other countries. The Report also makes a number of recommendations, both immediate and long-term, referring respectively to the operation of the appeals process and options for the future development of the scheme.

In respect of the long-term recommendations, including the qualifying disability criteria, given the scale and scope of the scheme, further changes can only be made after careful consideration. For this reason, the Government decided that the Minister for Finance would consider the recommendations contained in the Report of the Interdepartmental Review Group in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme. This consideration is undertaken on a regular basis.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons in relation to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme at present holding a primary medical certificate entitling them to eligibility under the scheme; the number of applicants awaiting decision on a primary medical certificate; and the number of such cases under appeal. [18376/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Based on the most recent data available from the Revenue Commissioners, it is estimated that the number of claimants in the Disabled Drivers and the Disabled Passengers [Tax Concessions] Regulations 1994 Scheme in 2006, was approximately 11,000. An application for a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC) under the Scheme is made to the Senior Medical Officer for the relevant local Health Services Executive (HSE) administrative area and therefore falls under the remit of the HSE. Consequently, my Department is not in a position to outline either the number of persons currently holding a PMC, or the number of persons awaiting a decision as to their eligibility for a PMC.

Appeals relating to the medical aspect of the Scheme are made to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. As at end May 2007, 417 appeals were with the Medical Board of Appeal. 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.