Sean Fleming
Ceist:219 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people in receipt of mobility allowance; and the number of these recipients who have received a rebate of VRT and or VAT in the past two years. [4470/01]
Written Answers. - Disabled Drivers' Scheme.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:230 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he proposes to withdraw entitlement to mobility allowance which is payable by health boards from persons who avail of tax and VAT relief benefits under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4578/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 230 together.
The disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme which comes under the aegis of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners enables qualifying persons to purchase a new car every two years free of vehicle registration tax and VAT to a maximum of £7,500 if the qualifying person is a driver, and £12,500 if the qualifying person is a passenger. In addition, the scheme provides for the refund of excise duty on up to 600 gallons of fuel per year and for an exemption from annual road tax. It is estimated that the scheme cost some £22 million in 2000, excluding the annual road tax costs.
The mobility allowance, which is a monthly payment administered by the health boards, provides financial support for severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport and is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings, for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey. The rate of the allowance is being doubled to a maximum of £90 per month from 1 April 2001, and from that date persons who benefit from the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme will be unable to also avail of the mobility allowance. It was on this basis that the Minister for Finance approved the increase in the mobility allowance payment from £45.60 to £90 per month.
By definition, the beneficiaries of the tax-based scheme have access to transport, which is heavily subsidised by the State, and the object of the new arrangement is to target the increased mobility allowance at eligible people with disabilities who do not enjoy these advantages. I intend however to keep the situation under review and to consult with interested parties on the matter. On 31 December 2000 there were 2,937 people in receipt of mobility allowance. As the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme comes under the aegis of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, detailed information relating to beneficiaries of this scheme is not available in my Department.