Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of associations, organisations and regulatory bodies in receipt of grants, benefit in kind and sums of money from the State in tabular form for the past three years; if he is satisfied that the State should be financing such organisations; if he will undertake to examine the savings that can be made in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28916/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Deputy's question: The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal falls within the categories mentioned as an organization which receives funding from the state (through Subhead A3, Vote 7).

Part of this Subhead inter alia meets the cost of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. The Board hears appeals from people who have been refused a Primary Medical Certificate which would allow them access to the Disabled Drivers and Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme. The Medical Board of Appeal is hosted by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) on behalf of the Department of Finance and the cost of the Board has been recouped to the NRH since 2005 from the Department of Finance Vote.

Provision for 2012 is €330,000. Expenditure in 2009 was €371,467, expenditure in 2010 was €311,548, and expenditure in 2011 was €325,543. The Department is satisfied that the expenditure of the Board, which is demand-led, should continue to be covered, and that the level of expenditure is constantly monitored to ensure cost-efficiency. Details of the responses given to the written PQ's answered by my Department can be found using the following link:http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2012/