Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tax Concessions.

Noel Ahern

Question:

87 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the operation of the Disabled Drivers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1989; if his attention has been drawn to the perception that it is almost impossible in the Dublin area to get a certificate; if the criteria are being evenly operated; the number of applications and number of approvals in each health board area for the most recent three year period for which data is available; if he will give a similar breakdown for each community care area in the Eastern Health Board and an analysis of the illnesses from which the successful applicants suffered; the reason for the delay at appeal stage; if this will be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23985/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The terms and conditions governing the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme are set out in Statutory Instrument No. 353 of 1994, a copy of which is available in the Dáil Library.

The scheme is administered on a day-to-day basis by the Revenue Commissioners, who, under the regulations, may only consider an application for relief where a primary medical certificate has been issued to the person concerned by the senior area medical officer employed by the appropriate health board. This certificate confirms that the person fulfils the medical criteria laid down in the statutory instrument.

I must confirm to the Deputy that neither my Department nor Revenue has any role in the medical assessment of the person nor in the issue of certificates. For this reason, it is not possible for me to supply a breakdown of the nature of the certificates issued and refused. However I have received no evidence that there are health board areas where such certificates are particularly difficult to obtain. Therefore, it would appear that the medical criteria are generally applied in a consistent manner.

The specified medical criteria refer essentially to particular types of physical disability, rather than to the underlying illness. The nature of the illness is not required to be stated on the primary medical certificate and for this reason, it is not possible to provide an analysis of the illnesses from which the successful applicants suffer.

Where the issue of a primary medical certificate is refused, an appeal may be made to the Disabled Drivers' Medical Board of Appeal, an independent board whose decision is final. I understand that there is a long waiting list for assessment by the board. The number of persons who, while aware that they do not meet the medical criteria but nevertheless insist on being assessed by the board, may be a contributing factor to this waiting list.

As I have informed the House on a number of occasions, the scheme is under review by an interdepartmental group under the chair of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Pending receipt of their report, I do not think that it is prudent for me to comment on the scheme in one way or another.