Vol. 507 No. 2
105 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Finance if he has received representations from an organisation (details supplied) which has asked for the inclusion of blind passengers in the disabled drivers' and passengers' car scheme; if so, the steps, if any, he has taken regarding the submissions made; and when a response will be made in this regard. [16270/99]
I can confirm to the Deputy that I have received correspondence and continue to receive correspondence on behalf of the organisation in question. My response to the representations has been the same as my response to the many questions which I have answered on the disabled drivers and disabled drivers passengers scheme in this House so far this year, namely that the scheme is under review by an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and that the existing medical criteria for qualification is one of the issues that have been raised with that group.
For the Deputy's further information, I refer him to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 13 dated 24 June 1999 and to the Seanad Adjournment debate on 23 June 1999; both of which deal comprehensively with the difficulties posed by an extension of the scheme to different categories of disabled persons.
