Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Other Questions. - Disabled Drivers' Scheme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

18 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued instructions to, and-or received communications from, the Revenue Commissioners in connection with the 1994 regulations in respect of disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' (tax concessions); if the current review group studying this matter has reported; if many submissions have been received in connection with the said regulations; if all such submissions have been acknowledged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18101/00]

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 Oireachtas Library. The Deputy is no doubt aware that the scheme is operated on a day to day basis by the Revenue Commissioners and my Department has no involvement in its administration. I have issued no instructions to the Revenue Commissioners in connection with these 1994 regulations. As I have previously informed the House, the Revenue Commissioners completed a technical review of the scheme which has a very specific focus in that it aims to address only the technical and operational problems with the present scheme, with a view to making the scheme operate in a more effective and cost-efficient manner for its present target group.

The Revenue Commissioners report was sent to the interdepartmental review group, which has yet to report. It is chaired by an official of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which provides the secretariat for the group and which would also be responsible for receipt and acknowledgement of submissions.

Meetings were held with various interest groups and individuals who had expressed views over a three day period in early May. An advertisement was also 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 and I understand that as of 22 June 2000, 239 written submissions have been received by the group in response to the advertisement. I also understand a letter of acknowledgement was issued to each of the 239 persons and groups who made submissions. 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 and is, of course, also aware of points raised in Dáil and Seanad debates on this subject.

While I have no definite date for completion of the report, I hope 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. I do not consider it prudent to make further comment on the scheme pending receipt of the report.

Mr. Durkan

I thank the Minister for his reply, but he said all submissions were acknowledged and I know they have not. What precisely are the terms of reference of the review group? It appears from previous experience that this group is sitting for an inordinately long time. The Minister should indicate how much longer the group intends to sit before coming up with an answer.

Mr. McCreevy

I must contact the secretariat in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform because it is responsible for acknowledging submissions. My reply states that the submissions have been acknowledged, but I will check that for the Deputy. I do not have the terms of reference in my supplementary notes, but I can send them to the Deputy.

I agree the group has been sitting for some time, but we have not had a review of this for some time and it is important when doing so to take all representations and opinions into account. The Deputy will also be aware that an analysis of parliamentary questions to the Minister for Finance would show that matters relating to the disabled drivers' and passengers' scheme is one of the top two queries. It has been the subject of various parliamentary questions and Adjournment debates and I regularly receive letters about it. I, too, would like the group to conclude its deliberations. I am sure that will be done in the next few months.

Mr. Durkan

Will the Minister take the initiative to bring matters to a conclusion, given that he and his colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, answered parliamentary questions on this issue in 1998? It appears that at this stage a directive should be issued to bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion, having particular regard to the ever increasing numbers of disabled people, passengers or potential drivers, who cannot access education or employment as long as this group remains as it is.

Mr. McCreevy

We had lengthy discussions on this matter when dealing with parliamentary questions and on a number of occasions during debates on the Finance Bill. It is a very generous scheme, but if we extended it to everyone with a disability it would be very costly. It is very invidious to start differentiating between disabilities and the issue is very complex. The officials are working as efficiently as they can and we hope to have the report shortly. If we were starting off I am sure we would have come up with a different scheme, but people have had difficulties when trying to tinker with the existing scheme due to its generous terms. This group has been considering the matter and I am sure it will report soon.

Mr. Deenihan

Given that the review group is not likely to report for some time, will the Minister bring forward some simple amendments which would right the obvious anomalies in the scheme? I could explain those amendments clearly to the Minister and they would satisfy a large number of people. Will he consider this?

Mr. McCreevy

I have been asked that question before and I cannot because any small change would bring demands for more changes. That is one of the reasons we have set up this review group – to examine this in a composite way. I see some anomalies but making little changes here and there would lead to further difficulties.