Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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978. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 14 December 2022, if he will provide this Deputy with copies of the five papers and the technical annexe submitted to his Department by the Department of Finance relating to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers' scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1192/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As part of its work in 2022, the Transport Working Group engaged in discussions on the adequacy of Government-funded transport and mobility supports with a view towards developing proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward. The scope of these discussions included the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.

The materials provided to the Transport Working Group by the Department of Finance in this regard include an evaluation of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme which concludes that it is no longer fit for purpose; a proposal for a new vehicular adaptation scheme; and international evidence in support of its proposal. I can certainly provide the Deputy with copies of the relevant materials, as I am sure, would my colleague the Minister for Finance.

The Group's work has now concluded and the final report which synthesises submissions made by members of the Transport Working Group for this purpose is presently being finalised.

It will be incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced.