Vol. 427 No. 6
78 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if he will amend the regulations controlling the disabled drivers' scheme to enable persons suffering from multiple sclerosis to benefit as the current regulations are not appropriate to this condition because such persons would have all their limbs but with very restricted use of them.
In order to qualify for the reliefs available under the disabled drivers' scheme, which is established by the Disabled Drivers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1989, applicants must satisfy one or more of the following medical criteria:
(a) persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;
(b) persons wholly without the use of one of their legs and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that they are severely restricted as to movement of their lower limb;
(c) persons without both hands or without both arms;
(d) persons without one or both legs;
(e) persons having the medical condition of dwarfism and who have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
Assessment of a claimant is made by reference to the above medical criteria by the Directors of Community Care and Medical Officer of Health in the local health boards. Persons suffering from multiple sclerosis may qualify for the reliefs available on the same basis as any other disabled person, provided they meet any one or more of the above criteria. It would not be appropriate to make specific provision for multiple sclerosis sufferers, without having regard to the level of individual disability involved.
