John McGuinness
Question:180 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of primary medical certificates issued by each health board to applicants with dwarfism in each year from 1999. [5985/03]
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, but which are not set by the Department of Health and Children: 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; or 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 will issue a primary medical certificate if s/he 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 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.
With regard to the number of primary medical certificates issued to people with dwarfism in the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and to date in 2003, the details are as follows:
|
Health Board |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
Southern Health Board |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
Western Health Board |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Midland Health Board |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
South Eastern Health Board |
2 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
North Eastern Health Board |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
North Western Health Board |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
In relation to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the information required was not readily available. Therefore, I have asked the regional chief executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
John McGuinness
Question:181 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a primary medical certificate was not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if an appeal in the case and a full review of the file will be arranged. [5986/03]
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 disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme.
Accordingly, my Department has 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 should 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, the Department of Health and Children has no statutory responsibility for this board of appeal.