Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

368. To ask the Minister for Finance if persons who are blind can qualify for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, which provides relief from VRT and VAT on the use of an adapted car, an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant; and if his Department plans to alter the qualification criteria for the scheme. [17428/25]

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

As the Deputy is aware, the Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) provides relief from VRT and VAT on 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 defined, 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 Principal Medical Officer (PMO) 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 by satisfying at least one of the following medical criteria that is set out in legislation, Finance Act 2020, in order to obtain a Primary Medical Certificate:

• 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.

The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual.

However, this is very much a matter for Government as whilst my Department has oversight of the DDS, I do not have responsibility for disability policy.

As the Deputy is aware the National Disability & Inclusion Strategy or NDIS Transport Working Group recommended that the DDS be replaced with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme. This is in line with the general view that we need to move away from a medical criteria-based approach to a needs-based approach.

Under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, the sub-group convened to progress NDIS proposals for needs-based, grant-aided, modern vehicle adaptation supports to replace the DDS, have generated a report that has been submitted to the Department of the Taoiseach, for its consideration.

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

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

369. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of people who have applied for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025; the number who have qualified for the scheme annually; and the economic value of tax exemptions and fuel grants granted under the scheme in each of those years, in tabular form. [17429/25]

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

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, S.I. No. 353 of 1994 (as amended) provides for the repayment or remission of VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) on the purchase of an adapted vehicle for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. Qualification for the scheme also provides access to the Fuel Grant scheme and for a waiver of motor tax.

I am advised by Revenue that the full range of statistics requested is not readily available. The table below outlines details that are readily available i.e. the number of claims approved on the scheme along with the total VAT and VRT amount refunded to the applicants for the years 2019 to March 2025.

Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities Statistics