Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Minister for Health if general practitioners will be permitted to fill out assessment forms for primary medical certificates in view of the difficulties some are having in getting their applications in due to the pressure thatCovid-19 is putting on the health system. [4748/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Schemecomes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. 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 for a Primary Medical Certificate. 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.

There are no plans at present for Primary Medical Certificate assessment forms to be completed by General Practitioners. The ability to hold assessments may be impacted on by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place and the role of the HSE Medical Officers in the roll out of the COVID vaccination programme. However, I understand that the HSE is considering the matter of Primary Medical Certificate assessments in the context of their revision of the HSE recovery and restoration plans, taking into account the pressures and challenges to health services presented by Covid-19.