Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will change the medical criteria for qualification for the disabled drivers and passengers tax relief scheme to include people who do not satisfy the strict criteria of the current scheme but who have a medical need to have their car adapted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16482/08]

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. Some 12,500 people benefited under the scheme in 2007 at an overall estimated cost of €74 million. Any changes would have to be considered in the context of the annual Budget.