Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of an appeal on refusal of a primary medical certificate for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48747/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should note at the outset that it is a legislative requirement that the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) is independent in the exercise of its functions and it is a matter for the Board to determine all aspects of the management and delivery of the appeals process.

The Board review the decision of the HSE Principal Medical Officer (PMO) not to award a Primary Medical Certificate on the basis that the individual did not meet one of the following criteria as set out in the Finance Act 2020. At an appeal hearing they determine if the individual does, or does not meet, one of these criteria. Only if an individual is deemed to meet one of the criteria, will they be awarded a Board Medical Certificate. The criteria are:

• 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.