Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
1093. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps that will be taken to ensure the HSE has the capacity to process primary medical certificates from 1 January 2020; the outcome of the meeting on 9 December 2020 between the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability at his Department and the Department of Justice and the Secretary General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1783/21]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate. This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, met with the Secretary General of the Department of Health on 9 December 2020 to discuss a number of issues, including Primary Medical Certificates. Minister Rabbitte discussed the backlog that has built up due to the temporary suspension of the assessments earlier this year.
The Deputy will be aware that following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance. In order to allow for the Primary Medical Certificate assessments to recommence, the Minister for Finance brought forward amendments to the Finance Bill to provide for the existing medical criteria in primary legislation.
On foot of a request from the Minister for Finance, my colleague, the Minister for Health, issued an instruction to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE on 22nd December, 2020, to the effect that Primary Medical Certificate assessments can recommence with effect from 1st January, 2021.
As the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates is a service matter, I have referred this element of the Deputy’s question to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
