Billy Timmins
Question:131 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance if blind passengers will be included in the disabled drivers and disabled passengers car scheme currently under review. [13558/99]
Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers Scheme.
I refer the Deputy, for his information, to the reply to the Adjournment Debate held on 2 March 1999 which dealt comprehensively with this matter. I also refer him to Parliamentary Questions on this issue which I answered on 20 April, 27 April, 18 May and 19 May 1999. I can confirm that I have no plans to include blind people in the list of those eligible for benefit under 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 the inderdepartmental 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 this report. 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.