Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Finance if the primary medical certificate scheme in respect of Section 92 of the Finance Act 1989 and the Disabled Drivers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 will be expanded to allow an application on behalf of a child (details supplied) in County Meath to be awarded with a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18742/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, 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.