Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to review the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, given the view of the Ombudsman that the criteria of the scheme may be discriminatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9240/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that the Ombudsman wrote to the Secretary General of my Department and made comments regarding the eligibility criteria of the Disabled Driver and Disabled Passengers Scheme. The Ombudsman did not say that the criteria were discriminatory but that in his opinion they were narrowly focused and prescriptive.

The Scheme and qualifying criteria were designed specifically for those with severe physical disabilities and are, therefore, necessarily precise.

The Scheme represents a significant tax expenditure. Between the Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT foregone, and the assistance with fuel costs used by members of the Scheme, based on provisional figures the Scheme represented a cost of €48.6 million to the Exchequer in 2014, an increase of €5.1 million on the 2013 cost. This figure does not include the revenue foregone to the Local Government Fund in the respect of the relief from Motor Tax provided to members of the Scheme.

I recognise the important role that the Scheme plays in expanding the mobility of citizens with disabilities, and I have managed to maintain the relief at current levels throughout the crisis despite the requirement for significant fiscal consolidation. However, in the still challenging fiscal environment and given the scale and scope of the Scheme, I have no plans to expand the medical criteria beyond those currently provided for in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994.