Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 4

Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

122 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 228 of 16 February 1999, No. 103 of 20 April 1999 and No. 85 on 6 May 1999 and the Adjournment Debate of 2 March 1999, he has received a response from the National Rehabilitation Board following his referral to it for consideration as stated in the Dáil Adjournment Debate; if he has received a report from the interdepartmental group reviewing this scheme; the number of meetings it has had; the number of submissions it has received; if oral hearings were held; if he has set any date for the completion of this review; if he will publish the report; the proposals he has to amend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17124/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The parliamentary questions and the Adjournment Debate to which the Deputy refers relate to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme.

As I have informed the House on a number of occasions, this scheme is currently under review by an interdepartmental group which is chaired by an official from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The terms and conditions governing the scheme have not been referred to the National Disabilities Authority as that newly established authority has no function in determining whether a claimant meets the medical criteria necessary for admittance to the scheme. The former National Rehabilitation Board provided secretarial service to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. The chairperson of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, who held the post of a senior medical officer with the National Rehabilitation Board, prior to its dissolution and whose post has now been transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, together with another member of the board of appeal made an oral presentation to the review group.

The review group has met in formal session on six occasions. Oral submissions were heard by the group over a three day period in early May. An advertisement was placed in the press on 11 May 2000 seeking written submissions from interested parties. The closing date for receipt of those submissions was 26 May 2000. I understand that 236 written submissions were received by the group. The group in its deliberations is also informed by the submissions which it received from members of the public and from public representatives prior to 11 May 2000.

While I have no definite date for completion of the report, I hope that the receipt of the submissions will facilitate the group in its deliberations and in early finalisation. The report will be submitted to my Department for consideration and a decision to publish will be made at that stage. Pending receipt of the report, I do not consider it prudent to make further comment on the scheme.