Vol. 518 No. 1
119 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the reason a primary medical certificate was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of his obvious disability and the hardship being experienced by him due to lack of proper transport; if the Department will interview the applicant and examine the details of his case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11158/00]
First, I must confirm that the Minister for Finance has no function whatsoever in the determination of whether a person does or does not meet the strict medical criteria in order to qualify for the various concessions under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. In order to qualify for relief under the scheme, an applicant must meet the specified medical criteria and be in possession of a primary medical certificate to that effect issued by the appropriate senior area medical officer. 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.
I understand that that the person named was refused the issue of the necessary certificate and that this refusal was appealed to the board of appeal. The person was assessed by the board on 4 December 1999, and it was found that the requisite medical criteria were not met and the issue of a certificate was refused.
