Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2015
62. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a rebate on the usage of diesel and petrol by disabled drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35669/15]
View answerFrom 1969 to 2014, the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provided for the repayment of excise duty on fuel used in the transport of vehicles used by beneficiaries of the Scheme. Following a judgement of the CJEU of April 2013 the repayment of excise element of the Scheme was found to be incompatible with the Energy Tax Directive. Following negotiations with the European Commission it was agreed that the repayment of excise duty should be discontinued as of 31 December 2014.
As I stated in March 2014, to ensure that no beneficiary of the Scheme lost out as a result of the Court's ruling, I decided to introduce a new fuel grant effective from 1 January 2015. This fuel grant will maintain the current practice of paying the sum a year in arrears, so that my Department shall make the first payments of the fuel grant from 1 January 2016.
The Fuel Grant will be paid at the same rate as the rates for repayment of excise duty on fuel. Accordingly, the rate for petrol will remain at €0.59 per litre, the rate for diesel will remain at €0.48 per litre, and the rate for liquefied petroleum gas will remain at €0.10 per litre.
My officials and officials from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners have been preparing the necessary administrative and legislative measures to ensure the fuel grant is paid from 1 January 2016.
With the assistance of the Revenue Commissioners, a number of improvements have been made to the administration of the Scheme. Beneficiaries will now be able to apply for the fuel grant online on the Revenue website through the 'myAccount' feature. Revenue will process the applications for my Department, and my Department shall make the payment directly to the beneficiaries bank account.
My Department will shortly be writing to beneficiaries of the Scheme informing them of the changes to the fuel grant, and informing them that they can log-on to the 'myAccount' feature of the Revenue website from 1 January 2016 and claim the grant. Detailed information on the new fuel grant and how to apply for it will shortly be uploaded on the websites of my Department and of the Revenue Commissioners.
