Vol. 478 No. 1
72 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of elderly people per annum who must undergo medical tests and eye tests in advance of getting a driving licence; the number of complaints received regarding the cost to the applicant of this procedure; if this matter will be re-examined and the services paid for by the State, in total or in part, as a gesture to the elderly; and the estimated annual cost which would be involved. [10597/97]
Limerick East): Driving licence regulations require that all persons of 70 years of age and over must submit a medical report with an application for a driving licence and such persons are restricted to either a one year or three year licence depending on the period of fitness certified by the medical report. Information as to the number of such persons applying for a driving licence each year is not available and will not be available until the computer based national driver licencing file comes on line in 1999. Eleven written complaints about the cost of medical reports and renewal of driving licences were received in the Department of the Environment in the past year.
Medical examinations required for screening purposes to determine capacities such as fitness to drive are outside of the scope of the Health Acts and persons who undergo such examinations are therefore liable for charges. The level of the charge is a matter between the general practitioner and the person concerned. There are no plans at present to provide such services under the Health Acts.
