Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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69. To ask the Minister for Finance if the criteria for the disabled drivers and passengers scheme will be amended in view of the concerns that have been outlined by the Ombudsman regarding the equity of the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6130/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As you may be aware, the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, payment of a Fuel Grant, and an exemption from Motor Tax.

To qualify for the Scheme an applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must satisfy one of the following conditions:

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

- be without both hands or without both arms;

- be without one or both legs;

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

The Scheme represents a significant tax expenditure. Between the Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT foregone, and the fuel grant, the scheme cost €65m in each of 2016 and 2017, rising to €70m in 2018. This figure does not include the revenue foregone in respect of the relief from Motor Tax provided to members of the Scheme.

I understand and fully sympathise with any person who suffers from a serious physical disability and can’t access the scheme under the current criteria. However, given the scope and scale of the scheme, any possible changes to it can only be made after careful consideration, taking into account the existing and prospective cost of the scheme as well as the availability of other schemes which seek to help with the mobility of disabled persons, and the interaction between each of these schemes.

Accordingly, I have no plans to amend the qualifying medical criteria for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme at this time.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications received under the disabled drivers and passengers scheme in each of the past five years; the number of these which were successful and unsuccessful, respectively; the number of appeals submitted; the number of successful appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6131/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that the following table sets out the total number of applications received, approved and rejected under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme for the years 2014 to 2018 (inclusive).

The table also includes the number of appeals received and the number that were successful for the years requested.