Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Finance when appeal hearings for tax relief for disabled drivers under the primary medical certificate scheme will be held in County Galway, given the unfairness of having persons with severe disabilities travelling to County Dublin for hearings; why he does not facilitate hearings in regional areas on a regular basis; the number of appellants from County Galway who have had to travel to County Dublin for hearings in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18389/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Hearings of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal are held on average twice a month at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, which has the facilities to cater for people with mobility impairing disabilities of the kind provided for under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.

The Medical Board of Appeal holds regional clinics as demand arises. I'm informed that one clinic per year, for the past four years, has been held in Cork City. A regional clinic is scheduled for September this year in the Mercy University Hospital, Cork City.  It is important that the Medical Board of Appeal conducts appeals in the appropriate clinical environment.  As far as I'm aware there are no plans to hold a regional clinic in Galway this year.

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.

It has not been possible in the time allowed for the Medical Board of Appeal to provide the number of appellants from County Galway who have attended appeal hearings in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoighaire from 2014 to date.  However, I will ensure that this information is forwarded directly to the Deputy once it is available.