Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019
143. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if a decision to deny a person (details supplied) a primary medical certificate will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7304/19]
View answerTo qualify for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, which is operated by the Revenue Commissioners, an applicant must have a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 and satisfy a range of conditions. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are set by the Department of Finance.
The extent of the involvement of health personnel in the scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant satisfies the medical criteria set out in the Department of Finance regulations. These Health Service Executive (HSE) Senior Medical Officers have no role in setting or amending the eligibility criteria.
A successful applicant is provided with a Primary Medical Certificate. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the HSE's Senior Medical Officer's decision to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which is under the auspices of the Minister for Finance. The Appeal Board makes a new clinical determination in respect of the applicant.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
