Tax Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022

Tuesday, 8 March 2022

Questions (210)

Pauline Tully

Question:

210. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have availed of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021; the cost to the Exchequer of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; the estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of changing the medical criteria for the scheme to a more general mobility-focused criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13038/22]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I am advised by Revenue that the number of individuals and organisations claiming a repayment of Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) under the Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities (DPD) scheme is provided in the table below. The figures for 2021 are provisional at this point.

Year	Number of   Claimants	VRT & VAT €m
2021	5,737	62
2020	5,539	57
2019	6,336	62
2018	6,423	60
2017	6,020	56

It is not possible, based on the information included in tax returns, to estimate the cost of extending the scheme or changing the eligibility criteria. To do so would require details of the proposed wider criteria and the potential level of additional uptake on the scheme.