Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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190. To ask the Minister for Finance if he plans to expand the disabled drivers and disabled passengers' scheme to provide a range of tax reliefs linked to the purchase and use of specially constructed or adapted bikes and e-bikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15740/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme 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 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 (PMC) issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate (BMC) issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other criteria apply in relation to the vehicle and its use, including that the vehicle must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant.

The terms of the Scheme set out the following medical criteria, and that one or more of these criteria is required to be satisfied in order to obtain a PMC:

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

- be without both hands or without both arms;

- be without one or both legs;

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

The Minister for Finance gave a commitment that a comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, would be undertaken. The Minister is working with Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. They have agreed that the DDS review should be brought within a wider review under the auspices of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, to examine transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities. This the most appropriate forum to meet mutual objectives in respect of transport solutions/mobility supports for those with a disability. Officials from the Department of Finance are contributing to the Working Group to progress the review and to bring forward proposals for consideration by Government.

However, there are no current plans to extend the Disabled Drivers and Passengers scheme to include specially constructed or adapted bikes and e-bikes.

Further information on supports available to persons with disabilities can be found on the Citizens Information website.