Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers.
John McGuinness
Question:
337
Mr. McGuinness
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the reasons a primary medical certificate was not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and the assistance which is available from his Department or the health board if she is not granted a primary medical certificate.
[25241/01]
The medical assessment and granting of a primary medical certificate for the purpose of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme is carried out by the senior area medical officer in the relevant health board. This function is to assist the Department of Finance which has statutory responsibility for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive officer, South Eastern Health Board to investigate this matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
I also wish to draw the Deputy's attention to two other schemes which come under the aegis of my Department. The motorised transport grant is a means tested payment administered by the health boards. The purpose of this grant is to provide assistance for persons with a disability who may need a car to obtain-retain employment or to provide assistance for persons with a disability who are living in very isolated circumstances and have serious transport problems.
To be eligible to receive the motorised transport grant applicants must satisfy the following conditions: their disability must impede their use of public transport; they must hold a driving licence; they must be physically and mentally capable of driving; the motorised transport must be a necessity in order for the person to obtain-retain employment or the person must have a transport requirement because of very isolated circumstances.
Applications may also be considered in cases where persons with severe disabilities are incapable of managing the controls of a car or where on medical opinion it is inadvisable for them to drive and therefore they must be driven to and from their place of employment. In such cases, the car must be purchased by the person with a disability and the name of the person who will drive this person to and from his or her place of employment must be notified to the relevant health board. The maximum motorised transport grant is currently £3,300, 4,190.14, with effect from 1 April 2001.
The mobility allowance is a means tested payment which is administered by the health boards. The purpose of the allowance is to provide financial support for severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport, for example, to finance the occasional taxi journey.
To be eligible to receive this allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions: be over 16 years and under 66 years; be living at home or maintained by a health board in any long-term institution; be unable to walk, even with the use of artificial limbs or other suitable aids, or must be in such a condition of health that the exertion required to walk would be dangerous; inability to walk has to be likely to persist for at least one year; moving of the applicant must not have been forbidden for medical reasons; be in a condition to benefit from a change in surroundings; an eligible person who is benefiting from the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme receive the mobility allowance up to a maximum of £45.60, 57.90, per month. If an eligible person is not benefiting from the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme, he or she may avail of the mobility allowance up to a maximum of £90, 114.28, per month.
It is a matter for the senior area medical officer in the relevant health board to decide whether the medical criteria are satisfied in each case. If a person feels that he or she may qualify for the motorised transport grant or the mobility allowance, he or she should contact the relevant health board for further details and an application form.
