Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance the criteria upon which a primary medical certificate may be awarded, and in specific, if there is any mechanism under which chronic illnesses, which relapse and remit, may be recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, to those who meet certain disability criteria. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. To get the Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be severely and permanently disabled and satisfy one of the following conditions:

a) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

b) be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the

use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as

to movement of the lower limbs;

c) be without both hands or without both arms;

d) be without one or both legs;

e) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms

and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

f) have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties

of movement of the lower limbs.

Some 13,500 people benefited under the scheme in 2010 at an overall estimated cost of €55 million. I have no plans to widen the qualification criteria.