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]
Vol. 531 No. 4
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.