asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the tax concession for disabled drivers under section 43 (1) of the Finance Act, 1968 to accommodate hand amputees, thus giving them parity with other disabled persons.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Disabled Drivers Tax Concession.
16.
I have no plans at present to review the legislation in question. The Deputy will recall that a proposal to rationalise and up-date the various schemes of assistance for disabled drivers was put forward by the Government in the 1988 budget. This would, inter alia, have involved the repeal of section 43 (1) of the Finance Act 1968. In the event, the proposed changes were found to be unacceptable to organisations representative of disabled drivers and the matter was not proceeded with.
Whereas I accept that the Minister's predecessor ran into trouble with disabled drivers who at that time were entitled to this relief, I would ask the Minister to consider that hand amputees are people who were not considered at that time, who were not consulted and who were strangers to that controversy. They are suffering an injustice compared with leg amputees. Surely the Minister should address them separately from that controversy. Would he not agree that it is unfair to discriminate against them just because agreement cannot be arrived at with those who are missing their lower limbs?
My predecessor made very effort to try to bring in the new scheme in consultation with the Department of Health and the organisations representing disabled drivers would not accept it in any shape or form. My door is open in relation to a renewal of something in that regard. If we get to that situation, I will take on board the suggestion made by Deputy McDowell. It has been in the criteria for quite a long time. However, we are not prepared to allow the open abuse of this system that was taking place previously.
Would the Minister agree to consult on an informal basis with the finance spokespersons of the various parties in the House with a view to rectifying the anomalous situation concerning hand amputees? There may well be a consultation on it and, bearing in mind that there are limited resources and that we have to prevent any misuse of the scheme, we might come up with an agreement as to how best the money could be used.
Certainly.