Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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361. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the application for a service by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40950/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may already be aware that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., has responsibility for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, which provides tax relief for the purchase of adapted vehicles for disabled drivers and passengers. The Scheme is operated by the Revenue Commissioners.

Minister Donohoe advised me 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 also requested that the Senior Medical Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE), who undertake the assessments on behalf of the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, do not recommence assessments for Primary Medical Certificates until the current legal position is clarified. I requested the HSE to issue an immediate instruction to the relevant HSE personnel to that effect.

I understand that Minister Donohoe is introducing an amendment to the relevant primary legislation in the Finance Bill. This will have the effect that assessments may recommence when the Finance Bill is enacted.

In the meantime, as your query concerns a service matter, I have arranged for your question to be referred to the HSE for investigation and direct reply to you.