Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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238. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications made to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme in each of the years from 2018 to and including 2021. [9530/22]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications made for the primary medical certificate with respect to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers' scheme in each of the years from 2018 to and including 2021; the number of applications rejected in each of those years; the number of applications that were rejected and subsequently appealed to the disabled drivers medical board of appeal; and the number of those appeals which were rejected or accepted in tabular form. [9531/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.

The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.

The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons who also meet one of six specified medical criteria, as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other qualifying criteria apply in relation to the vehicle, in particular that it must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant. In the event that a PMC is not granted by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer an appeal may be made to the independent Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) who operate out of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

The number of applications for a Primary Medical Certificate and the number of those that were successful are a matter for the HSE. The below table outlines the PMC assessment data for 2021 as recently supplied by the HSE.

Primary Medical Certificates - data at December 2021

Primary Medical Certificates - data at December 2021

The below table outlines the number of appeals heard by the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal and, of those, the numbers that were successful and unsuccessful.

**Appeal hearings were lower than usual for 2020 due to both public health considerations and the Supreme Court Case in June 2020. Appeal hearings resumed in early 2021 following an amendment to the Finance Bill to provide for the existing medical criteria in primary legislation which, following the approval of the Finance Act 2020, allowed assessments to recommence.

***2021 appeal hearings have also been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme to the Exchequer in each of the years 2016 to 2021. [9555/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.

The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons who also meet one of six specified medical criteria, as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other qualifying criteria apply in relation to the vehicle, in particular that it must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant. In the event that a PMC is not granted by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer an appeal may be made to the independent Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) who operate out of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

The table below outlines the costs of the DDS Scheme and the Fuel Grant Scheme for the years 2016-2021. These figures do not include the revenue foregone in respect of the relief from Motor Tax provided to members of the Scheme.