Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
336. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish the report from the working group on transport supports for people with disabilities; if he will confirm whether the report includes proposals to put in place a fit-for-purpose primary medical certificate for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20045/23]
View answerThe issue of mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority for me as Minister of State with responsibility for Disability. In furtherance of Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, a Transport Working Group was established in 2020 by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group to formulate proposals on how transport supports could be better coordinated across the state. I chaired the work of the Transport Working Group from January 2022. The Final Report of the Group was published earlier this year and is available on my Department’s website.
The Primary Medical Certificate is required as part of the eligibility criteria for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passenger Scheme. This Scheme is the responsibility of the Department of Finance, and it is administered by the Revenue Commissioners.
To inform the Transport Working Group and contribute to its consideration of Government-funded transport and mobility schemes under Action 104, the Department of Finance convened a Criteria Sub-Group to gather information on the experiences, perspectives and expertise of those most involved with the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. The Criteria Sub-Group also examined international best practice in respect of vehicle-related provisions. The Criteria Sub-Group concluded that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme as constituted and operated does not meet the needs of a significant group of those with a disability and with mobility impairments. It recommended that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme should be replaced with a new approach to vehicle-related support, namely a graduated scale of grant-aided direct financial support for specified vehicle adaptations.
The Transport Working Group welcomed the proposal and indicated that while some form of support for the purchase of vehicles may still be required, a new vehicular adaptation scheme could be pursued independently of, but as a compliment to, the timelines involved in developing a wider range of mobility supports and a range of transport options across Government, including private, community and public transport that cater for the transport needs of people with disabilities.
Responsibility for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, including the eligibility criteria, remains with the Department of Finance and I would encourage the Deputy to reach out to my colleague the Minister for Finance for further information.
It is incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced.
