An interdepartmental review group, chaired by an official from my Department, is currently examining the reliefs available under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme in order to identify any anomalies and to make recommendations to the Minister for Finance. The scheme provides reliefs from vehicle registration tax and value added tax on vehicles and from excise duty on fuel to drivers and passengers who are severely and permanently physically disabled.
While a sizeable number of submissions had already been made to the group prior to May 2000, the review group placed advertisements in the national newspapers in early May 2000, seeking written submissions from members of the public in order that it would benefit from as full a consultation process as possible. Arising out of the advertisements, 250 submissions were received, reflecting over 60 different disabilities.
The review group also held 22 individual hearings between May and September 2000 with representatives of various organisations and with a number of persons, who had indicated a desire to make oral submissions to them. At present, the group is examining practice in other countries and certain technical aspects of the scheme. As the group are still deliberating on the issues raised and have undertaken further examination, it is not possible to state what conclusions are likely to emerge. However, the group are conscious of the time and effort which individual members of the public and the relevant associations have put into the submissions and are committed to giving full consideration to the issues raised, as expeditiously as possible.
It is intended that the review group will report to the Minister for Finance on its work in the coming months.
