Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
42. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance his plans to roll out the disabled drivers board of appeal in view of the fact that other regions have to travel to the one location; if he will further consider the imposition on elderly and disabled persons having to travel long distances to Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and if his Department is considering proposals to deal with these anomalies imposed on these applicants. [11710/20]
View answerHearings of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal are held on average twice a month at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, which has the appropriate facilities to cater for people with mobility impairing disabilities of the kind provided for under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.
The Medical Board of Appeal holds regional hearings as demand arises. I have been informed that a hearing was organised and scheduled to be held in Cork City on the 26th April in St. Finbarr's Hospital. However due to Covid 19, unfortunately it was not possible to hold the clinic.
This hearing has been re-scheduled for Cork on 20th August and a hearing has also been arranged in Roscommon hospital for the 29th October. While the current environment is challenging for hospital appointments which are deemed to be non-essential from a medical perspective, it is hoped that both of these hearings will go ahead as scheduled.
It is important that the Medical Board of Appeal conducts appeals in the appropriate clinical environment and that adequate numbers of persons attend regional clinics to ensure that the Board can assess as many applicants in the year as possible.
