Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
318. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the criteria in respect of the primary medical certificate; if he is aware that the Ombudsman referred to the need to change these criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37918/15]
View answerI am aware that the Ombudsman wrote to the Secretary General of my Department and made comments regarding the eligibility criteria of the Disabled Driver and Disabled Passengers Scheme. The Ombudsman stated that, in his opinion, the criteria were narrowly focused and prescriptive.
The Scheme and qualifying criteria were designed specifically for those with severe physical disabilities and are, therefore, necessarily precise.
The Scheme represents a significant tax expenditure. Between the Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT foregone, and the assistance with fuel costs used by members of the Scheme, based on provisional figures the Scheme represented a cost of €48.6 million to the Exchequer in 2014, an increase of €5.1 million on the 2013 cost. This figure does not include the revenue foregone to the Local Government Fund in respect of the relief from Motor Tax provided to members of the Scheme.
I recognise the important role the Scheme plays in expanding the mobility of citizens with disabilities. However, in the still challenging fiscal environment and given the scale and scope of the Scheme, I have no plans to expand the medical criteria beyond those currently provided for in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994.
