Vol. 533 No. 6
208 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if an evaluation has been undertaken with a view to determination of the precise number of disabled passengers and disabled drivers likely to benefit from a liberalisation of the regulation of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers 1994 Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10036/01]
I have been informed by the interdepartmental review group examining the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (Tax Concessions) scheme that there are no definite figures of the likely number of extra disabled persons who may benefit under the scheme should a widening of the scope of the medical criteria governing the scheme be agreed on completion of the review. I have been informed that there are up to 350,000 persons in Ireland who could be regarded as disabled to some degree or other. Of course not all would or could use any widened scheme, but the substantial tax benefits makes for considerable interest in and desire to be admitted to the scheme.
