Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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551. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a new scheme will be introduced to support persons with a disability to reduce their transports costs, including purchase of vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Government departments.

Recently, the Department of Transport was tasked with developing a new Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS) as one specific personal transport response, in the context of broader Government consideration of integrated transport and mobility supports for those with a disability.

In consultation with key stakeholders, my officials have begun work on the scheme and are in the initial stages of process-mapping. I wish to advise that the VAS will be a reimbursement scheme, assisting with the additional cost of adapting a vehicle. The intention is that the scheme will be open to drivers and passengers with a clinically assessed need for vehicle adaptations, to enable them to enter or exit a vehicle or to operate a vehicle.

The Department’s priority, in introducing this new scheme, is to provide supports for both disabled drivers and passengers that are fit for purpose and equitable, effective and efficient, as well as proportionate and appropriate to needs, while also recognising the need for a wider Government consideration of holistic and integrated transport supports for those with a disability who do not need vehicle adaptations to improve functional mobility.

Support for the capital cost of vehicles remains a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.