Vol. 517 No. 2
84 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications received in each health board area under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concession) Regulations, 1994; the number of applicants approved; the number refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9443/00]
85 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications received from County Kildare by the health board under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concession) Regulations, 1994, for each of the past three years; the number of applicants approved; the number refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9444/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.
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 Library.
As I have informed the House on a number of occasions, this scheme is administered on a day to day basis by the Revenue Commissioners, who, under the regulations, may consider an application for relief only where a primary medical certificate had 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 the certificates. As that is the case, it is not possible for me to supply a breakdown of the numbers of applications for and refusals of primary medical certificates to be analysed at health board or at county level.
I am also informed that the Revenue Commissioners' record of applications under the scheme are not maintained in such a way as would allow these applications to be analysed by reference to the health board area or the county from which they were received.
