Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group (NDIS TWG), comprising members from a range of Departments, agencies and Disabled Persons Organisations, was tasked 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 the Department of Children, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) led the work of the group.

The NDIS TWG final report was published on 24 February 2023, and welcomed the proposal put forward by the Department of Finance and the Criteria Sub-Group that the Disabled Drivers Scheme is replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation and indicated that the proposal was a clear deliverable on which work could begin in the relatively near future.

The NDIS TWG final report also notes in its conclusion that the Disabled Drivers Scheme is outdated and that the scheme needs to be addressed as a matter of priority. 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.

Access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Government departments and agencies. Under the aegis of the Department of Taoiseach officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from the NDIS report and to map a way forward. Department of Finance officials are proactively engaging with this Senior Officials Group work as an important step in considering ways to replace the Disabled Drivers Scheme, as one specific personal transport response, in the context of broader Government consideration of holistic, multifaceted and integrated transport and mobility supports for those with a disability. Two meetings have been held, the first in July and the second more recently at the beginning of November. Department of Taoiseach officials are currently considering material supplied after these meetings.

In that context, any further changes to the existing Disabled Drivers Scheme would run counter to NDIS proposals to entirely replace the scheme with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme.