Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 2

Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers.

Tony Killeen

Question:

89 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications by disabled persons under the terms of the Disabled Drivers Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 353 of 1994, for each of the years since 1990; the number which have been successful for each year; and the plans, if any, he has to extend the categories to which the scheme applies to persons such as hemiplegic sufferers. [15822/97]

Ivor Callely

Question:

92 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the issues of concern, if any, regarding tax concession regulations for disabled drivers and disabled passengers which have been brought to his attention; the total number of people who qualified for such tax concession for each of the years from 1986 to 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15825/97]

Ivor Callely

Question:

93 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the total number of people who availed of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession regulations in 1996 and to date in 1997; if he will give comparative figures for such tax concessions in 1993 and 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15826/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 92 and 93 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, at such short notice, the information requested by the Deputies is not available in the precise format requested. However, in so far as historical data is concerned the following table gives a broad overview of the development of the tax concessions scheme for disabled drivers and passengers since 1990.

Year	Number of claims paid
1990	711
1991	642
1992	698
1993	856
1994	904
1995	1,315
1996	1,675
1997 (to end August)	1,412

In relation to 1996, 1087 claims were in respect of disabled drivers and 588 in respect of disabled passengers and organisations. The corresponding figures for 1997 (to end August) are 845 and 567.

As regards the number of persons benefiting from the relief, it should be noted that, since qualifying persons are entitled to acquire a vehicle tax free every two years, the above figures include a significant number of repeat applications; 4,281 persons are at present on file with the Revenue Commissioners as being eligible for relief under the scheme for disabled persons as driver, while 2,026 persons are on file as disabled passengers.

While, in the time available, it is not possible to give a full breakdown of unsuccessful applicants since 1990, I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that only 20 applications for relief were refused by the Revenue since 1995. However the Revenue Commissioners are not aware of the number of persons who have been refused the necessary primary medical certificate by the local director of community care and medical officer of health because they do not meet the appropriate medical criteria. Without such certification applications cannot be made for relief.

A comprehensive review of the workings of the scheme was carried out in 1993 and resulted in the adoption of the "Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994”. Six different types of disability are listed under the regulations and a qualifying person must satisfy one or more of them.

The principal issue of concern expressed to me in connection with the reliefs is in relation to their scope. The qualifying disability criteria set out in the regulations relate essentially to persons who have severe and permanent physical mobility problems. Requests have been made from time to time for the medical criteria to be relaxed so as to extend the range of qualifying disabilities to include,inter alia, footdrop, rheumatoid arthritis, the visually impaired, stroke, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The medical criteria as set out are there to ensure that the reliefs provided under the scheme are targeted at those who are most severely and permanently disabled. While the criteria are kept under review there are always difficulties in defining the categories of disability in a satisfactory manner without opening up the scheme in too costly a manner. The cost of relief in 1996 was nearly £8 million compared to £4 million in 1994.