Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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241. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 22 June 2023, how many applications were received and accepted or refused under a scheme (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32848/23]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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242. To ask the Minister for Finance how many applications were refused and the reasons for each refusal under a scheme (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32849/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.

The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of 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 who also meet one of six specified medical criteria, as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain 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.

The Deputy should note that the number of applications for a Primary Medical Certificate, the number of those that were successful and the reasoning for decisions made are a matter for the HSE. The below table outlines the PMC assessment data for 2021 and 2022 as supplied by the HSE.

Primary Medical Certificates - data at December 2022

Primary Medical Certificates - data at December 2021