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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 4

Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers' Scheme.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

134 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the disabled drivers' scheme is no longer available to those in receipt of mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6078/01]

The disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' – tax concessions – scheme, which comes under the aegis of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, enables qualifying persons to purchase a new car every two years free of vehicle registration tax and VAT to a maximum of £7,500 if the qualifying person is the driver, and £12,500 if the passenger. In addition, the scheme provides for the refund of excise on up to 600 gallons of fuel for an exemption from annual road tax. It is estimated that the scheme cost some £22 million in 2000, excluding the annual road tax costs.

The mobility allowance, which is a monthly payment administered by the health boards, provides financial support to severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport and is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings – for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey. The rate of the allowance is being doubled to a maximum of £90 per month from 1 April next, and it had been envisaged that from that date persons who benefit from the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers – tax concessions – scheme would be unable to also avail of the mobility allowance. By definition, the beneficiaries of the tax-based scheme have access to transport which is heavily subsidised by the State, and the object of the new arrangement is to target the increased mobility allowance at incapacitated people who do not enjoy these advantages.
In consultation with the Minister for Finance, I have been considering this proposal in the light of concerns expressed and representations received about the impact of complete cessation of the mobility allowance on some affected individuals, and it has now been decided that while the increased rate of £90 per month will, as intended, be given only to people who are not also enjoying tax subsidies, those benefiting from both schemes should retain the mobility allowance at the existing rate of £45 per month.
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