Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers Scheme.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

319 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 14 October 1998 the progress of the review of disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme; if a proposal that the particulars of the applicant's disablement on the first schedule of the primary medical certificate will be reviewed and amended following consultation with the community care area medical officers and the medical board of appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10313/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

A review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme is being undertaken by an interdepartmental group under the chairmanship of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with a view to determine what modifications, if any, might be proposed to the scheme. The existing medical criteria for qualification may be among the items examined by the group. The review has not yet been completed.

With regard to the technical review of the scheme by the Revenue Commissioners, I should point out that this review is much narrower in scope in that it addresses problems with the present scheme and makes recommendations on how to make it operate in a more effective and cost – efficient manner for its present target group.