Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 22 June 2023, the status of the disabled drivers medical board of appeal; the details of any engagement between his Department and the National Rehabilitation Hospital with regard to resolving issues which led to the withdrawal of its services in February 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42980/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 142 together.

Progress has been made on efforts to convene a new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals (DDMBA), to secure new hosting arrangements for the DDMBA and to recommence the appeals process.

I have now formally appointed all five members to the new DDMBA. Funding arrangements between the Department of Finance and the Department of Health have been agreed. On this basis the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) has confirmed that they will again host the DDMBA. Preparatory work is underway, that will include due deliberation on how best to clear the backlog. The appeals process will re-commence upon completion of this work. In parallel, my officials are working with the NRH to conclude other conditions for new hosting arrangements, which may continue after the appeals process is again up and running.

I appreciate that it has taken far longer than anticipated to get to this point. With the Department of Health we have had to run four Expression of Interest campaigns over 18 months to source the legislatively required five members. We have also had to re-negotiate new hosting arrangements with the NRH following their withdrawal of services in February 2023.

As of end August 2023 (latest data available) there were 1,079 appeals outstanding.