I refer the Deputy to my reply dated 23 February, 2000 to Parliamentary Question No. 34 on the subject of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme.
A variety of requests have been made for the medical criteria to be relaxed so as to extend the range of qualifying disabilities to include other categories and those suffering from other ailments. In addition, there are continuous requests to allow persons not fully meeting the current criteria to be admitted. The number of potential beneficiaries is unclear, but according to groups representing the disabled, there are as many as 350,000 persons in Ireland who could be regarded as disabled to some degree. The scheme cannot possibly be extended in its current form to such numbers who suffer from some form of disablement or disability and who wish to benefit from tax free cars and fuel.
The scheme is under review by an interdepartmental group which is chaired by an official from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This group is trying to resolve the issues involved.
The Minister for Finance has no role in determining whether a person satisfies the medical criteria laid down in the regulations governing the scheme. That is a matter of judgment on the part of the senior area medical officer in the local health board. Where the issue of such a certificate is refused, the person concerned may appeal that decision to the disabled drivers medical board of appeal, an independent board whose decision is final. This is not the National Rehabilitation Board as the question suggests. It should also be noted that there are other State funded schemes aimed at mobility, namely a mobility allowance and a motorised transport grant, both of which are payable by the health boards.
