Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 3

Written Answers. - Tax Reliefs.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

220 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 228 of 16 February 1999, 103 of 20 April 1999 and 85 of 6 May 1999 and an Adjournment debate of 2 March 1999, if he has received a response from the National Rehabilitation Board following his referral to them for consideration of legislative change as promised in the Adjournment debate; if he has received a report from the interdepartmental group reviewing the scheme; the number of meetings they have had; the number of submissions they received; if they had oral hearings; if he has set a date for the completion of this review; if he will publish the report; his proposals to amend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12892/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The Parliamentary Questions and the Adjournment debate to which the Deputy refers relate to the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' tax concessions scheme.

As I have previously informed the Deputy in reply to a similar parliamentary question, the terms and conditions governing the scheme have not been referred to the National Disabilities Authority. The authority has no function in determining whether a claimant meets the medical criteria necessary for admittance to the scheme. The former national rehabilitation board provided secretarial service to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. The board of appeal's chairperson held the post of a senior area medical officer with the National Rehabilitation Board prior to its dissolution. The post has been transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The board of appeal's chairperson, together with another member, made an oral presentation to the interdepartmental review group on the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' tax concession scheme.

The review group, which was chaired by an official from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, examined the scheme. I received its report and it is being examined. Any recommendations relating to the scheme's medical criteria or other conditions will receive full consideration. When this process is finished I envisage that the report will be made available to the public.

I am informed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that the group met 30 times over the course of its work. The group was established in 1998 and completed its report in 2002.

The group heard 21 oral submissions from interested individuals-organisations in May and September 2000. Some 250 written submissions were received.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

221 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the waiting period for an appeal to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; the waiting period in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12893/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The board of appeal operates independently but I have been informed that it has to deal with a backlog of appeals. In 1997 the waiting period for assessment was two to three months. At present a person must wait between 18 and 24 months to be assessed. This is an indication of the level of demand for tax relief under the scheme. In addition, the backlog seems to be exacerbated by the fact that many of those who appeal to the board are aware that they do not meet the medical criteria specified in the regulations. However, they still insist on exercising their right of appeal.