Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a grant is available to adapt a car by fitting a swivel seat in order to accommodate the transport of a spouse whose mobility is severely impaired. [25933/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The main supports available for disabled drivers and passengers are the Mobility Allowance, the Motorised Transport Grant and the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme. The Mobility Allowance is a means tested monthly payment payable by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to people aged between 16 and 66 who have a disability and are unable to walk or use public transport and who would benefit from a change in surroundings; (for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey).

The Health Service Executive may pay a Motorised Transport Grant towards the purchase of a vehicle and/or adaptations to a vehicle being purchased by a person with a severe disability who is 17 years or older where a vehicle is essential for him/her to retain employment. The vehicle must also be purchased and registered in the name of the person with the disability and the applicant must hold a driver's licence (full or provisional). Qualified persons with a disability who are incapable of driving or who have been medically advised not to drive, and who have to be driven to and from his/her place of employment will only be considered eligible for a grant provided that he/she will be driven by another named person to and from his/her place of employment. In these circumstances it is not necessary for the vehicle to be purchased and registered in the name of the person with the disability.http://www.citizensinformation.ie/index/SUBJECT/transporthttp://www.citizensinformation.ie/index/SUBJECT/people_with_disabilitieshttp://www.citizensinformation.ie/index/SUBJECT/health_service_payments

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides a range of tax reliefs linked to the purchase and use of vehicles by disabled drivers and disabled passengers. Under the terms of the scheme, a person can claim remission or repayment of vehicle registration tax (VRT), repayment of value-added tax (VAT) on the purchase of a vehicle and repayment of VAT on the cost of adapting a vehicle.

The Health Service Executive has the responsibility for the medical assessment of applicants for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme on behalf of the Department of Finance and for processing applications for Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant. As such, I would recommend that the Deputy inform the individual mentioned that it is open to them to contact their local health office directly.