Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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238. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will carry out a review of the fuel grant for disabled drivers (details supplied) in view of the fact that no such review has been carried out within the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61732/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I committed to a comprehensive review of the DDS, of which the fuel grant is a part, under the auspices of a broader review of mobility supports. In order to achieve this objective, Minister O’Gorman agreed in September 2021 that the DDS review should be incorporated into the work of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group (TWG).

The Working Group, under the Chairpersonship of Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, held a number of meetings across 2022. A draft report was considered at its final meeting on 8th December, and is currently being finalised. It is expected that it will be published in the near future.

As part of its engagement in this process, the Department of Finance established an information-gathering Criteria Sub-group (CSG) at the start of this year. Its membership comprised of former members of the DDMBA and Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) in the HSE. Its purpose was to capture their experiences, expertise and perspectives in relation to the practical operational and administrative challenges of the DDS, as well as to explore what alternative vehicular arrangements were available for those with mobility issues based on international experience. The CSG work led to the production of five papers and a technical annex, submitted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in July 2022.

The main conclusion of the CSG is that the DDS needs to be replaced with a fit for purpose, needs-based vehicular adaptation scheme in line with best international practice. Both I and my Department share this view.

In short, the DDS significantly diverges from international best practice. It does not meet the standards expected of a 21st administrative and operational model. It adheres to an outdated medical-based perspective of disability, requiring individuals to 'prove' their disability in order to access the scheme.

In relation to the argument that the scope of the DDS should be broadened, I do not believe this is either feasible or credible as any change or expansion of eligibility criteria for the DDS will still require an individual to 'prove' they meet that criteria and conversely there will still be individuals that will be deemed not to meet the criteria i.e. the scheme will still adhere to an 'in or out' policy rationale. Such an approach has the potential to make already highly contested Primary Medical Certificate and appeals processes even more difficult, for the HSE, for the DDMBA, and for individuals.

This conclusion, together with design principles and parameters for the new scheme as based on international practice, were incorporated into a response to three questions posed in September 2022 to members of the NDIS Transport Working Group, in respect of proposals for enhanced, new and/or reconfigured supports to meet the transport and mobility needs for those with a disability. I hope that steps to implement these proposals, particularly with respect to introducing a new vehicular adaptation scheme, will be incorporated into the Working Group's final report.