Batt O'Keeffe
Question:38 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to change the regulations pertaining to disabled drivers in respect of those drivers with partial impairment. [5610/97]
Written Answers. - Disabled Driver Regulations.
The medical criteria which must be met in order that a disabled person may qualify for tax relief are set out in regulation 3 of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994, which came into effect on 1 December 1994. Six different types of disability are listed and a disabled person must meet at least one of them in order to qualify for relief. It is a matter for the local director of community care and medical officer of health to decide if a person qualifies under the scheme.
The above mentioned regulations were drawn up following completion of a comprehensive review of the operation of the scheme, established by the Finance Act, 1989. The review involved wide-ranging consultation with all interested parties, including the organisations representing the disabled. The medical criteria listed are there to ensure that the costly reliefs of the scheme are targeted at those who are severely and permanently disabled. There will always be difficulties in defining the categories of disability in a satisfactory manner without opening up the scheme too widely.
While the Deputy does not indicate what type of impairment he is referring to, his comment will be noted in the context of the periodic review of the scheme.