Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will re-examine the rules for the primary medical certificate in relation to supports for drivers with a disability in view of the fact that numerous applicants have been refused the primary medical certificate because of the regulations and therefore they are being prevented from buying vehicles which will give them a better quality of life. [5902/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. The disability criteria for these concessions are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. To get a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of these Regulations. As the Deputy will be aware, there was an interdepartmental review of the Scheme. However, given the scale and the scope of the scheme, any possible changes can only be made after careful consideration and with regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme and the available resources.