Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects to appoint the new members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals to be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53934/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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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 however this did not result in sufficient suitable candidates coming forward. Therefore, a second round was issued with a closing date of 5th July 2022. From these two campaigns, three suitable candidates have been identified and are completing Garda vetting. Five members are legislatively required for a functional Board. It is planned to interview two further candidates shortly.

Once these processes have been completed for all candidates 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.

Applicants deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC can request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment.