Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

288. To ask the Minister for Finance when the medical criteria for the primary medical certificate is expected to be updated. [55137/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 cost to the Exchequer of the scheme, (excluding Motor Tax) was €62 million in 2021 and is currently at €59m Y.T.D., reflecting reductions in fuel grant claims arising from COVID-19 travel restrictions within Ireland. The cost of the scheme in 2023 is expected to be similar to that of previous years.

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 the following medical criteria, in order to obtain a Primary Medical Certificate:

- 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

In relation to the review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, as the Deputy will be aware, I gave a commitment to the Dail that such a review including a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, would be undertaken.

In this context I have been working with Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. We both agreed that the review should be brought within a wider review under the auspices of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), to examine transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities.

As part of the Department of Finance’s contribution to the review, it established an information-gathering group to capture the experiences, expertise and perspectives of former DDMBA members and Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) in the HSE. A range of outputs were produced, providing information on the DDS scheme and were submitted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in July.

The NDIS working group, chaired by Minister Anne Rabbitte, with officials from both this Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as well as others, held a number of meetings earlier this year. The group finalised a stock-taking exercise of existing transport and mobility schemes currently supporting people with disabilities and members have been asked to put forward proposals for next steps that will be discussed at the next NDIS working group meeting, scheduled for end November. In this regard, I have recently written to Minister’s O’Gorman and Rabbitte submitting the Department of Finance’s response to the various questions on which views were sought.

Department of Finance officials will continue to work closely with officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the wider review and on foot of that it is hoped that the NDIS working group will bring forward proposals for consideration.

I cannot comment on any potential changes to the scheme in advance of these proposals.