Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Finance

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are any allowances available for old age pensioners who suffer from reduced mobility due to COPD to enable them to continue to drive a vehicle to keep them as active and as independent in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29033/14]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to certain limits) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, and exemption from motor tax in respect of that vehicle, and relief from excise duty on fuel (up to a certain limit). To qualify for the scheme, an applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate.

To receive a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 and satisfy one of the following conditions:

1. be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

2. 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;

3. be without both hands or without both arms;

4. be without one or both legs;

5. be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

6. have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

The Senior Medical Officer for the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area makes a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant satisfies the medical criteria. A successful applicant is provided with a Primary Medical Certificate, which is required to claim the reliefs provided for in the Regulations. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the decision of the Senior Medical Officer to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which makes a new clinical determination in respect of the individual. The Medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions. After six months a citizen can reapply if there is a deterioration in their condition.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not one of the qualifying criteria. However, if an individual with COPD also satisfies one of the qualifying medical criteria provided for in the Regulations, they would be entitled to apply for a Primary Medical Certificate in respect of the qualifying criteria. More detailed information is available on the Revenue website at the following link: .

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