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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers Scheme.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

271 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is not deemed eligible to qualify for VRT and VAT concessions in relation to the purchase of a new car in view of the fact he has only one arm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7699/99]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have no record of any application or inquiry by the person referred to by the Deputy in respect of tax relief under the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 on the purchase of a motor vehicle.

I refer the Deputy to the Adjournment Debate in this House on 2 March 1999 which dealt com prehensively with the workings of this scheme. In order to qualify for relief under the scheme, an applicant must meet the specified medical criteria and be in possession of a primary medical certificate to that effect issued by the appropriate senior area medical officer. The scheme targets relief at those persons who are severely and permanently disabled with regard to physical mobility. The loss or absence of one arm is not a disability that comes within the scope of the specified medical criteria.
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