Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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142. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 23 November 2023, for an update on the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; to clarify if appeal hearings have recommenced to-date, and if not, the timeline for same; the number of people currently on the appeal hearing list; the expected timeline for the clearing of the backlog of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4382/24]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 158 together.

At the outset the Deputy should note that the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) has recommenced.

The DDMBA members were formally appointed in September 2023. After the completion of preparatory work including developing working methods, determining clinical criteria for prioritising the waiting list and scheduling appeal hearings, the DDMBA recommenced the appeals process in December 2023.

As of 26 January 2024 there are 1,007 appellants on the waiting list. 94 appellants have been assessed since the appeals process recommenced.

The Board is independent and wholly determines the approach and methods for the appeals process. I understand however that they have issued a validation letter to all those on the waiting list and are using clinically-based criteria to prioritise the order of appellant cases. It is not possible to estimate the time it will take to clear the backlog.