Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 March 2022
30. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals that are waiting to be assessed, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16929/22]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.
The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain charitable organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other qualifying criteria apply in relation to the vehicle, in particular that it must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant.
To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the medical criteria set out in the Finance Act 2020, by way of amendment to Section 92 of the Finance Act 1989.
Hearings 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.
Appeal hearings ran at reduced capacity for public health reasons until the end of covid related restrictions. There are 382 appeals outstanding from 2021 and there are 102 new appeals for 2022 up until today 28th of March. This is not available on a county by county basis.
An Expressions of Interest seeking suitable candidates for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is now published on gov.ie - Expression of interest for appointment to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (www.gov.ie) following the resignation of all five members of the Board.
Requests for appeal hearings can be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. New appeal hearing dates will be issued once the new Board is in place. Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place.
