Dan Neville
Question:39. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a fuel grant scheme to replace the existing scheme whereby disabled persons could claim excise relief on fuel. [30433/14]
View answerThursday, 10 July 2014
Questions (39, 41)
David Stanton
Question:41. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made in the development of a new fuel grant scheme for disabled drivers to replace the current excise relief on fuel allowed under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, which is due to be discontinued on 31 December 2014 as per the ruling by the European Court of Justice in April 2013; when this will come into effect; if there will be a seamless transition between the two schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30472/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 41 together.
In April 2013 the European Court of Justice ruled that the excise relief on fuel element of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme is incompatible with the EU Energy Tax Directive. My Department has informed the European Commission of my intention to remove the excise relief element of the scheme at the end of 2014 and replace it with a fuel grant scheme in 2015. The European Commission and has raised no objections.
Officials from my Department have been engaging with other Departments and the Revenue Commissioners in order to examine all the legislative, financing and payment implications of a new fuel grant scheme. I have instructed my officials to design the new grant scheme in such a way to provide as seamless a transition as possible between the two schemes. When all the details of the new scheme have been worked out and finalised, the members of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme will be informed.