Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
787. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health when a new scheme for the motorised transport grant can be expected; and if persons who received a primary medical certificate after the abolition of the old scheme and prior to the introduction of the new scheme and have, as a result, had to use their own personal funds to make vehicular adaptions will be entitled to apply for the grant. [18908/14]
View answerThe primary medical certificate relates to eligibility for the Revenue Commissioners Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Concession Scheme. This scheme provides a range of tax reliefs linked to the purchase, adaptation and use of vehicles by disabled drivers and disabled passengers in Ireland. The primary medical certificate had no role in the discontinued motorised transport grant.
In November 2013, the Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department will draw on the work, last year, of the Review Group on Transport Supports for People with Disabilities and the Inter-Departmental Group tasked by Government to consider details of a statutory replacement for the discontinued schemes. Work is ongoing at the present time on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. Decisions in relation to eligibility criteria and administrative arrangements for a new statutory scheme have yet to be made by Government.
