Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
345. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the reason no appeals for primary medical care are being heard at present; when appeals will be heard again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16063/23]
View answer346. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the number of appeals, and the length of time the appeal is awaiting determination, to the disabled drivers’ medical board of appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16087/23]
View answer364. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that there have been no members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal since the previous board’s resignation in November 2021, and that it has not been possible for people with disabilities who were denied a disabled drivers certificate to appeal that decision to a Medical Board of Appeals for the past 16 months; the reason for the failure to appoint a new Medical Board of Appeal for such a long period; and the role of his Department in this appointment process. [16074/23]
View answer365. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled drivers’ medical board of appeal has been re-established subsequent to the identification of candidates for the board last July, or when it will be set up to deal with a backlog of appeals since the last board’s resignation in November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16086/23]
View answer366. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the ongoing lack of an appeals mechanism for the refusal of an application for a primary medical certificate; and if he will provide an update on progress since my previous question of 25 October 2022 to reinstate the disabled drivers' medical board of appeal at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire. [16091/23]
View answer376. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the expected recommencement of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal since the last statement on 18 January, 2023; if the final two applicants have completed Garda vetting and been appointed to the board; if the board is up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16986/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 346, 364, 365, 366 and 376 together.
As the Deputies are aware the previous members of the DDMBA resigned effective from 30November 2021. Since then two Expression of Interest campaigns have been held, seeking suitable candidates for the Board. The Department of Health has led on all actions and tasks with respect to the Expression of Interest Campaigns. Department of Finance officials have provided support to the Department of Health in this matter.
The first campaign closed on 29th April. As there were insufficient suitable candidates arising from the first campaign, a second round was issued with a closing date of 5th July 2022. These two campaigns led to the selection of three candidates. However, five members are legislatively required for a functional Board with a quorum of three needed for any appeal hearing. Consequently two other candidates were nominated by the Minister for Health in November 2022. All five candidates successfully completed Garda Vetting by January 2023.
I had hoped that I could finalise these appointments and recommence the work of DDMBA in the first quarter of this year. However, the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) has recently indicated that it wishes to cease its involvement with the scheme, and as its facilities and secretarial service, which are funded by my Department, are integral to the operation of the DDMBA, it may take time to put in place feasible and appropriate alternative arrangements. It should be noted that every effort is being made to find such arrangements including engagement with the the NRH to see if they would be willing to reconsider their position.
You should be aware that assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place. In this regard, an important point to make is that even though there has been no appeal mechanism since the previous Board resigned, applicants who have been deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC are entitled to request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment.
As of 31st December 2022, there are currently 759 people awaiting an appeal hearing with 382 of those dating back to 2021 and the remaining 377 people applying for an appeal in 2022.
