Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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86. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the waiting times involved when appealing a decision made under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme 1994; his views that they are acceptable; the actions that can be taken to address them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17743/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Medical Board of Appeal that as of June 2016, there are 168 appeals active at the Board with an additional 15 appeals to be heard at a regional sitting of the Board in Cork in September.  Since January 2016 to date, the Board has heard 220 appeals.  However, 2016 has seen an average monthly increase of 20% in the number of appeals lodged on previous years.  In order to address this sudden increased demand, the Board has been holding hearings three times per month rather than the usual two.

I am confident that the Board has the matter in hand and that the additional hearings will address the issue.  I will keep the matter under review.  I would point out that Regulation 6(1)(e) of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. 353 of 1994) provides that the Medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions.