Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress to date in reviewing and improving the disabled drivers’ and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14799/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group (TWG), comprising members from a range of Departments, agencies and Disabled Persons Organisations, was tasked under Action 104 to review all Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability, including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS). Officials from DCEDIY led the work of the group. The NDIS TWG final report was published on 24 February 2023 and recommends that the DDS is replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation scheme, i.e. to provide direct financial assistance to individuals needing vehicle adaptations according to their needs, to meet their personal transport requirements and ultimately to facilitate independence and participation in society.

The NDIS TWG final report notes that the DDS is no longer fit for purpose. Introduced in the 1960s, the DDS has an outdated, ‘in-or-out’, medically-based policy rationale. It does not meet the needs of a significant group of those with a disability and with mobility impairments; it requires individuals to 'prove' they are sufficiently 'disabled' and any expansion of eligibility criteria will still mean some individuals will not meet the criteria. The DDS administrative and operational model is not and will never be fit-for-purpose in meeting the standards expected of a modern scheme. In addition, the DDS is significantly divergent from international best practice on almost all scheme parameters.

In conclusion, the NDIS TWG endorses the recommendation to develop a new needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation scheme. However, the final report does not set out next steps. It will be a matter for Government as to how to take this matter forward.