Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Finance the funding provided under the disabled drivers and passengers scheme in 2012, 2013, 2014 and the estimate for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10048/15]

Michael 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 a certain limit) 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, up to a certain limit, assistance in respect of fuel costs.  Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme operates through the remission or repayment of VRT and VAT, and exemption from Motor Tax, these elements of the Scheme are tax reliefs rather than expenditure items. Accordingly, funding is not provided for these Schemes.

The VRT, excise duty on fuel and VAT foregone to the Exchequer in respect of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme in 2012, 2013 and 2014 was €44 million, €43.5 million and €48.6 million respectively. These figures do include the Motor Tax foregone to the Local Government Fund.

The excise relief on fuel will be replaced by a new fuel grant in 2015 which is estimated to cost €8m for the year.

The tax forgone in 2015 in relation to the other elements of the Scheme will be dependent on the numbers availing of the scheme and new members admitted to the scheme in 2015.