Vol. 552 No. 1
297 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the primary medical certificate was not granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if the case will be reviewed based on this person's general practitioner and consultant's reports. [11215/02]
The medical assessment for 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 scheme. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the South-Eastern Health Board with a request that he examine the query and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
I point out that, 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 above regulations, the Department of Health and Children has no statutory responsibility for this board of appeal.
