Brian O'Shea
Ceist:199 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the assistance, if any, he will give to the Blind Car Owners and Users Association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14852/99]
Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers and Passengers.
I believe that the assistance referred to in the question is the issue of extending the benefits of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme to the blind.
I refer the Deputy, for his information, to the reply to the Adjournment debate held on 2 March 1999 which dealt comprehensively with this issue. The Deputy will also be aware of parliamentary questions on this topic which I answered on various dates during April and May.
The present medical criteria for access to the scheme relate essentially to disabilities which seriously and permanently impair the physical mobility of the person concerned. This reflects the origins of the scheme as a relief for disabled persons who were confined to wheelchairs, but nevertheless, were capable of driving suitably adapted motor cars.
A review of the scheme is being undertaken by an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, The existing medical criteria for qualification is one of the issues that may have been raised with that group. I await their report.
However the current scheme is costly and opening it up to wider ranges of disabilities would significantly add to this cost. I must caution, therefore, against an expectation that a broader range of persons who suffer from some form of disability or disablement will be admitted to the scheme as a result of this review.