Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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838. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an assessment appointment for a primary medical certificate at a health centre in Limerick city. [36974/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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By way of background, the Minister for Finance has responsibility for the Disabled Drivers and Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, which is operated by the Revenue Commissioners.  To qualify for the Scheme, an applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate.

The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria.  This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation, on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. 

Minister Donohoe has advised the Minister for Health, Donnelly that the immediate effect of a Supreme Court decision in June 2020 related to the Scheme, is that there is no firm legal basis on which to undertake assessments for Primary Medical Certificates.  Minister Donohoe as requested that the Senior Medical Officers in the HSE do no recommence assessments for Primary Medical Certificates until the current legal position is clarified by the Department of Finance.  Minister Donnelly requested the HSE to issue an immediate instruction to the relevant HSE personnel to that effect.

As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.