Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
102. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the ongoing review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; to confirm when he anticipates the commencement date for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; to disclose the current number of pending appeals before the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30206/23]
View answer115. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the current status of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; when the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal will recommence hearings; the number of appeals and request for appeal hearings that have been lodged since November 2021; and his response to the recent annual report of the Ombudsman with respect to same. [30180/23]
View answer128. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update into the review of the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30153/23]
View answer137. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 9 May 2023, the status of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; when he expects a new board to be in place; the details of the body that will provide the facilities and secretarial service to the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30011/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 115, 128 and 137 together.
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group (TWG), comprising members from a range of Departments, agencies and Disabled Persons Organisations, was tasked under Action 104 to review all Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability, including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS). The NDIS TWG final report was published on 24th February 2023 and welcomed the proposal put forward by my Department that the DDS should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation scheme, i.e. to provide direct financial assistance to individuals needing vehicle adaptations according to their needs, to meet their personal transport requirements and ultimately to facilitate independence and participation in society.
The NDIS TWG final report also noted both the outdated approach of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme and the fact that the scheme needed to be addressed as a matter of priority. The Working Group agreed that proposals in this regard was a clear deliverable on which work could begin in the relatively near future.
The NDIS TWG final report does not set out next steps with respect to the new scheme. This will be a matter for the Government to decide.
In relation to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) whose members resigned in November 2021, I had hoped that a new DDMBA would have been established by now and that the appeals process would have recommenced.
You should note that five members are legislatively required for a functional Board, however the recruitment of these members has proved to be challenging. In this regard, four expressions of interest campaigns have been organised by the Department of Health – 3 of them in 2022, and one in April to replace a previously nominated person. The necessary 5 members have been nominated by the Minister for Health, with Garda vetting currently being undertaken for the most recently nominated candidate – this process was completed for the other four candidates at the start of the year.
An added complication to the recommencement of the appeals process is that in February 2023, the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) (the body that has hosted the DDMBA since 2000) indicated their intention to withdraw their services with immediate effect. Finance and Health officials have been actively seeking to implement new arrangements since, including engaging with the NRH. Some progress has been made on this matter insofar as the NRH has indicated a willingness to once again host the DDMBA once certain conditions are met. It is important to note that requests for appeal hearings can still be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the NRH.
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.
I have 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.
As of 24th April 2023, there were 912 people awaiting an appeal hearing.
