Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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105. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the adequacy of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; the number of applications awaiting a decision from the Board; the average waiting time for a decision; and the number of appeals considered and determined in each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43733/23]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 27 June 2023, if he will outline the current situation regarding the functioning of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43904/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 106, 107, 108 and 118 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 has confirmed 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. Data is not available on average waiting times. No appeals have been heard since the resignation of all Board members in November 2021.

Finally you should note that I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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121. To ask the Minister for Finance when a decision will be made on implementation of the recommendations of the final report of the NDIS transport working group's review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. [43923/23]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on extending the terms of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44128/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 110, 121 and 139 together.

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on the 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 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. 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.

To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, as defined by meeting one of six medical criteria. The criteria are as follows:

• Be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs.
• Be wholly without the use of one of their legs and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that they are severely restricted as to movement of their 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.