Jack Wall
Question:145 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if there is any assistance for a person wishing to purchase a car for a person with a medical disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7683/12]
View answerTuesday, 14 February 2012
Questions (105)
Written answers
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, to those who meet certain disability criteria. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. To get the Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be severely and permanently disabled and satisfy one of the following conditions:
a) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;
b) be 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;
c) be without both hands or without both arms;
d) be without one or both legs;
e) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;
f) have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
If the Primary Medical Certificate is refused, the person may appeal the refusal to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. I would point out that the Medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions.