Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of the disabled drivers appeals board scheme for 2008 and 2009; the number of appeals that were received, granted or refused; the number of appeals that were still on hand at the end of the year; the cost of the appeals granted; the average cost of each appeal granted; the average time to process appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20152/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is hosted by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on behalf of the Department of Finance. The cost of the Board has been recouped to the NRH since 2005 from the Department of Finance Vote.

The amounts recouped to the NRH was €320,323 for 2008 and €371,467 for 2009. These amounts include the salary costs of the Chairperson of the Board who also works as a consultant with the NRH and Beaumont Hospital.

The number of appeals that were received, granted, refused and the number of appeals still on hand at the end of each year, is as follows:

In addition to the Chairperson, two doctors from a panel of doctors attend each Appeal Board sitting. The average waiting time for an appeal, where the appellant can travel to Dublin, is approximately four to six weeks, down from six months in 2007 and for around two years in mid 2005.