Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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418. To ask the Minister for Finance when medical examinations for the disabled drivers' scheme will recommence given that many disabled persons are at a significant financial disadvantage due to the fact they are not currently able to access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13941/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I brought forward an amendment to the Finance Bill to provide for the existing medical criteria for the Disabled Drivers Scheme in primary legislation. Following approval of the Finance Act 2020, the HSE has been informed that medical assessments can recommence from 1^stJanuary 2021.

However, in the context of the national effort to suppress and manage the impact of COVID, the ability to hold assessments is impacted 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 and in responding to outbreaks in residential care facilities across the country. The HSE has confirmed that the community medical doctors and their teams are predominately deployed to the COVID vaccination rollout in residential care facilities and other health care settings.

Finally, I would like to clarify that the Scheme itself is still operating. All persons or charitable organisations that can currently access the Scheme will continue to be able to do so and make claims for tax reliefs and the fuel grant in the normal manner.