Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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96. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals, including the number of people waiting to have their appeal reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42094/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should note that all five members of the new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) were formally appointed in September 2023. Following preparatory work which included developing working methods, determining clinical criteria for prioritising the waiting list and scheduling appeal hearings, appeal hearings recommenced in the first half of December 2023.

It took longer than anticipated to recruit a new Board due to the fact that four Expression of Interest campaigns had to be run over 18 months to source the legislatively required five members. My officials also had to re-negotiate new hosting arrangements with the National Rehabilitation Hospital following their withdrawal of services in February 2023.

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.

As of end August 2024 there are 467 appellants on the waiting list, from an opening total in December 2023 of 1,007 appellants.