Vol. 567 No. 6
141 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can receive assistance towards modifying the family car to facilitate her spouse who suffers from motor neuron disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/03]
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 provide for relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and adaptation of new or existing motor vehicles for the transportation of persons with disabilities, within certain parameters. The most important requirement for the relief is that the person with a disability meets the medical criteria specified in the regulations and is in possession of a primary medical certificate to that effect issued by the appropriate senior area medical officer who is an official of the local health board. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, who have responsibility for the administration of the disabled drivers and passengers scheme, that they have no record of an application from the person concerned and I have arranged for issue of information booklet VRT 7 which sets out in detail the requirements for admission to the scheme, together with the appropriate application form.
I recommend that the person concerned should, as a first step, contact the local senior area medical officer with a view to obtaining the required certificate, if he or she has not already done so. The Revenue Commissioners are unable to consider an application for the relief without the issue of a primary medical certificate. If the person concerned requires further information with regard to the scheme they should contact: The disabled drivers section, Customs and Excise, Coolshannagh, Monaghan, phone (047) 82800, which will be glad to be of assistance.
