Vol. 513 No. 4
147 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if the case will be reviewed for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who applied for assistance under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994; and the other course of appeal, if any, open to him;. [2698/00]
The Minister for Finance has no function whatsoever. in the determination of whether a person does or does not meet the strict medical criteria in order to qualify for the various concessions under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme.
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. Where the issue of such a certificate is refused, the person concerned may appeal that decision to the Disabled Drivers' Medical Board of Appeal, an independent board whose decision is final.
I understand that the person named was refused the issue of the necessary certificate and that this refusal was appealed to the board of appeal. The person was assessed by the board on 14 December 1999 and it was found that the specified medical criteria for relief were not met at that time. However the person was advised by the board of appeal to reapply for certification in a year's time.
