Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

90. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for delays of several months for assessments of disable drivers and passengers scheme applications in Galway; the reason they are being offered alternative appointments in Dún Laoghaire, which many are unable to attend due to their disabilities: if consideration will be given to providing assessment clinics in Galway or alternative accessible locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15905/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the appeals process provided by the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals (DDMBA). The Deputy should note at the outset that the DDMBA operates from the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire, who provide facilities and secretarial services so that the Board can deliver the appeals process. There are no other dedicated facilities for hosting the appeals process.

The Board does on occasion run regional clinics when appropriate facilities can be sourced on an ad-hoc basis and where there is sufficient demand for, and attendance at, such clinics. For instance, two clinics have been run in Cork over the last 12 months. The location of alternative regional clinics for the DDMBA is kept under review.

To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the following medical criteria, in order to obtain a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC):

be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the 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.

These criteria are set out in the Finance Act, 2020. In the event that a PMC is not granted by the relevant Principal Medical Officer an appeal may be made to the independent DDDMBA.

At an appeal hearing the Board reviews the decision by a HSE Primary/Principal Medical Officer and determines if an appellant does, or does not meet, one of the six medical criteria. Only if an appellant meets one of the six eligibility criteria will the Board issue a Board Medical Certificate.

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.

The Board is independent and wholly determines the approach and methods for the appeals process and as set out in legislative requirements. I understand that a validation system has been put in place to ensure the figures for those requiring an appeal hearing remain accurate. The validation process has removed 356 individuals from the waiting list as they no longer required an appeal hearing. As of March 2025, there are 440 appellants on the waiting list, from an opening total in December 2023 of 1,091 appellants.