Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:84 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Finance the road tax scheme applicable to disabled drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers Scheme.
The Disabled Drivers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1989, which govern the disabled drivers scheme, provide that the vehicle of a qualifying disabled person, who has satisfied all medical and non-medical requirements of the scheme, including the required adaptation of the vehicle to take account of the claimant's particular disability, is exempt from road tax. The current scheme has its origins in the Finance Act, 1968, which introduced an exemption from road tax for vehicles adapted and used by disabled persons who were wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs. The 1989 Regulations extended the qualifying medical categories of disability and the scheme currently benefits some 3,000 severely mobility impaired disabled persons. At present my Department is finalising a comprehensive review of the scheme; in this regard, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 1 February 1994.