Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made to replace the disabled drivers medical board of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47212/22]

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons that are waiting for their appeals to be dealt with through the Disabled Drivers Board of Appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47226/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on 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. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the six medical criteria.

The Minister has no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.

Following the resignation of all members of the previous Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, effective from 30th November 2021, two Expression of Interest campaigns have been held, seeking suitable candidates for the Board. The Department of Health leads on all actions and tasks with respect to the Expression of Interest Campaigns. Department of Finance officials provide support to the Department of Health in this matter.

The first campaign closed on 29th April. As there were insufficient suitable candidates arising from the first campaign, a second round was issued with a closing date of 5th July 2022. Processes to support the nomination of suitable candidates are nearing completion. Once these processes have been completed the Minister for Finance will then be in a position to appoint any suitable Department of Health nominee to the Board. When the new Board is up and running, it will consider the best way of ensuring outstanding appeals are addressed as quickly as possible.

Requests for appeal hearings can 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. Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place.

As of the 26th September, there are 672 appeal hearings outstanding.