Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Minister for Finance if it is possible for a person (details supplied) to get extra financial support for a car. [4270/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The scheme that comes under the remit of my Department is the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. It 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 (DDMBA). To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the following six medical criteria.

- 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. 

To qualify for VRT and VAT reliefs the vehicle must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the PMC holder, as a disabled driver or where being transported as a disabled passenger by a family member or by an organisation.

The limit of VRT and VAT reliefs depends on the PMC holder and the adaptations made to the vehicle. Disabled drivers can receive up to €10,000 for ‘adaptations’ to the vehicle which can include e.g. installing hand controls. Disabled drivers can receive up to €16,000 if making certain ‘specific’ adaptations. Disabled passengers can receive up to €16,000 for ‘adaptations’ while organisations can received up to €16,000 for ‘relevant’ adaptations, if transporting 5 or fewer PMC holders.

Disabled drivers, disabled passengers and organisations transporting 5 or fewer PMC holders can receive up to €22,000 for certain ‘extensive’ adaptations subject to strict conditions.