Michael Ring
Question:91 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be granted a primary medical certificate to enable him to avail of a VAT concession as a disabled passenger. [7269/02]
Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers.
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994 were drawn up by the Minister for Finance and come under the remit of the Revenue Commissioners. The Department of Health and Children has no statutory responsibility for the regulations or their operation.
To qualify, a person must meet one or more of the following medical criteria which are specified in the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) regulations, 1994 which are not set by the Department of Health and Children. He or she must be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs; without both hands or without both arms; without one or both legs; wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg; and has the medical condition of dwarfism and has serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
The senior area medical officer for the relevant health board area will issue a primary medical certificate if he or she is satisfied that the applicant meets one or more of the above medical criteria. This role is to assist the operation of the revenue scheme. If the applicant feels he meets the specified criteria, he should contact the relevant health board for further details.
If a person is dissatisfied with a decision of a senior area medical officer in respect of primary medical certification, it is open to that person to appeal to the disabled drivers medical board of appeal. However, as with the regulations referred to the Department of Health and Children has no statutory responsibility for this board of appeal.