Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Disabled Drivers.

John McGuinness

Question:

396 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 27 February 2003, the reason a primary medical cert was not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason the SEHB excluded this person from the scheme and yet granted certificates in two cases in 1999, four cases in 2000 and five cases in 2001 where the applicants circumstances were similar to this person's; if the referring of the case from official to official, Department to SEHB and Department to Department will be stopped and the certificate issued without delay or an independent inquiry set up to review the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7654/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley)

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 of the 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, which comes within the statutory powers of the Department of Finance.