Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 6

Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers Scheme.

Michael Ring

Question:

141 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to include blind people or people with impaired vision under the Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations for repayment of vehicle registration tax, VAT and fuel repayment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10696/99]

Deirdre Clune

Question:

145 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled drivers and disabled passengers car scheme will be extended to include blind passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10801/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 141 and 145 together.

I refer the Deputies, for their information, to the reply to the Adjournment Debate held on 2 March 1999 which dealt comprehensively with this matter. I can confirm that I have no plans to add visually impaired persons to the list of those eligible for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme.

The present medical criteria for access to the scheme relate essentially to disabilities which seriously and permanently impair the physical mobility of the person concerned. This reflects the origins of the scheme as a relief for disabled persons who were confined to wheelchairs but nevertheless were capable of driving suitably adapted motor cars.

A review of the scheme is being undertaken by an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The existing medical criteria for qualification is one of the issues that have been raised with that group. I await their report.

However the current scheme is costly and opening it up to wider ranges of disabilities would significantly add to this cost. I must caution, therefore, against an expectation that a broader range of persons who suffer from some form of disability or disablement will be admitted to the scheme as a result of this review.