Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the resumption of the primary medical certificate appeals process; if a new board has been appointed following the closure of the expression of interested phase in April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29521/22]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the resumption of the primary medical certificate appeals process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29520/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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47. To ask the Minister for Finance when the new disabled drivers medical board of appeal will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30712/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 31 and 47 together.

The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax 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 charitable 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.

To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of six medical criteria, in order to obtain a Primary Medical Certificate.

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).

Following the resignation of all members of the previous Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal an Expression of Interest seeking suitable candidates for the Board closed on 29th April 2022. The Department of Health has convened a selection panel to assess the suitability of applicants for nomination.

It should be noted that during this period, requests for appeal hearings can continue to be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. New appeal hearing dates will be issued once the new Board is in place.

There are 382 appeals outstanding from 2021 and 175 new requests for appeal in 2022 to date.

Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place.