James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1162. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine the difficulty and delay in obtaining a medical certificate for a person (details supplied); if his office will expedite the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1217/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities Tax Relief Scheme is operated by the Revenue Commissioners and provides tax relief for vehicles purchased for use by people with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are set out by the Department of Finance, details of which can be found on www.revenue.ie.

In order to qualify for tax relief under the scheme, the person with a disability must have a valid Primary Medical Certificate, applications for which are processed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Local Health Offices, on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. If the HSE refuses an application for a Primary Medical Certificate, the person is informed that they may appeal the refusal to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which is based at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin and is under the auspices of the Minister for Finance.

As the matter raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.