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Disabled Drivers.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2004

Thursday, 14 October 2004

Questions (101)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

101 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the progress with the interdepartmental review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession 1994 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24956/04]

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Written answers

An interdepartmental review group was established to examine the operation of the scheme and its report was published in early July 2004. It sets out in detail the genesis and development of the scheme, the current benefits, the Exchequer costs, the various requests to broaden the eligibility criteria and various recommendations for changes to the scheme.

Following on from the report's recommendations concerning the appeals process, amendments to the regulations governing the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme were drafted to improve the operation of the medical appeals board. These were signed by the Minister for Finance on 23 July 2004. The amendments provide for changes to the existing regulations as follows: expanding the panel of medical practitioners serving on the medical board of appeal from three to five; amending the appeals process by introducing a six month waiting period between an appeal and a subsequent application and introducing the requirement for a second or subsequent application to be certified by a registered medical practitioner to the effect that there has been material disimprovement in the medical condition since the previous application.

The Government has agreed that the Minister for Finance will consider the report on an ongoing basis in the overall budgetary context having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme.

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