Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Health

Primary Medical Certificates

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1618. To ask the Minister for Health the number of primary medical certificate applications received in counties Galway and Roscommon, respectively, for each month in 2019, 2020 and 2021; the number of medical assessments performed each month; the corresponding number of applications approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18459/21]

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Schemeis underpinned by statute and comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.

The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Medical Doctors 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, which is a requirement for the Scheme.

The Deputy may be aware that following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D.. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., issued an instruction to the HSE to recommence assessments from 1st January, 2021.

The ability to hold assessments has been impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place to suppress and manage the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately there are delays in the processing of assessments due to the involvement of the HSE Medical Doctors in the national COVID-19 response, which I know are causing undue strain on applicants.

I recently met again with the HSE to discuss the issues around the delay in accessing Primary Medical Certificate assessments. The HSE has confirmed that the assessment process has recommenced. The HSE has also confirmed that it will continue to monitor the situation in the context of resuming the range of services that are provided by Community Medical Doctors under the HSE Service Recovery and Restoration Plan, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.

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

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