Michael Healy-Rae
Question:169. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44776/22]
View answerWednesday, 14 September 2022
Questions (169)
Written answers
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDDPS) provides relief from VRT and VAT on an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.
To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC) an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of six specific medical criteria.. The PMC is issued by the relevant Senior Medical Officer in the HSE, or failing that an appeal may be made to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA). The Minister has no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.
The Deputy should note that I gave a commitment to the House that a comprehensive review of the DDDPS, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, would be undertaken.
In this context I have been working with Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. We both agreed that the review should be brought within a wider review under the auspices of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), to examine transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities.
We believe that this is the most appropriate forum to meet mutual objectives in respect of transport solutions/mobility supports for those with a disability.
The NDIS working group, chaired by Minister Anne Rabbitte, with officials from both this Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as well as others, held its first meeting on the 26th January 2022. A stock-taking exercise of existing transport and mobility schemes currently supporting people with disabilities has been completed and was discussed at the most recent meeting of the group on 6th September 2022.
The Department of Finance established an information-gathering group to capture the experiences, expertise and perspectives of former Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal members and Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) in the HSE. A range of outputs have been produced, providing information on the DDDPS as inputs into the broader review.
My officials will continue to work closely with officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the wider review and on foot of that the NDIS working group will bring forward proposals for consideration.
I cannot comment on any potential changes to the scheme in advance of these proposals.