Vol. 529 No. 4
209 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress being made to review the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme, 1994; when the interdepartmental group will make a report; if the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2922/01]
An interdepartmental review group, chaired by an official from my Department, is examining the reliefs available under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme. The scheme provides reliefs from vehicle registration tax and value added tax on vehicles and from excise duty on fuel for drivers and passengers who are severely and permanently physically disabled.
While a sizeable number of submissions had been made to the group prior to May 2000, the review group placed advertisements in the national newspapers in early May 2000 seeking written submissions from members of the public in order that it would benefit from as full a consultation process as possible. Arising out of the advertisements, 250 submissions were received, reflecting over 60 different disabilities. The review group also held 22 individual hearings between May and September 2000 with representatives of various organisations and with a number of persons who had indicated a desire to make oral submissions to it.
The insights gained from an analysis of the oral and written submissions, when added to the knowledge already gained from the submissions which it received from members of the public and public representatives, will inform the work of the group. The group is examining practice in other countries and certain technical aspects of the scheme.
