Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason only one fuel claim per year is now going to be permitted of disabled drivers claiming refund of excise duty on motor fuel use in qualifying vehicles under the Disabled Drivers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25533/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, following a review of the Disabled Drivers scheme, some changes in the administrative arrangements have been gradually introduced to achieve efficiencies and to simplify the process for disabled claimants, so that claiming is easier and more customer-friendly. The changes included dispensing with the submission of receipts with every fuel repayment claim and, more recently, moving to one claim per annum rather than up to 3 claims a year as had been the practice previously.

The volume of fuel repayment claims had been very high. During 2009, 29,410 claims were processed involving a total repayment of €6.9 million. The average repayment on each claim was therefore just €234. The reduction in the claim period from four monthly (max of 3 claims per annum) to one claim per annum was aimed at reducing the volume of paperwork being dealt with under the scheme and thereby achieving efficiencies. The change will reduce the amount of claims being processed by at least half and allows for the provision of a more efficient and responsive service across all aspects of the Disabled Drivers schemes. It is also in line with the generality of tax repayments. In view of the low average value of claims, the change was considered feasible and should not cause undue difficulty for claimants. In fact, the change has been welcomed by many claimants.

Where particular difficulty is being experienced by a disabled claimant, Revenue will give favourable consideration to making an interim repayment, as an exception, on a case by case basis.