Vol. 550 No. 2
276 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he will take to grant a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6w a medical certificate in order that this person can be recognised under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7716/02]
As you are aware, the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994, were drawn up by the Minister for Finance and come under the remit of the Revenue Commissioners. The Department of Health and Children has no statutory responsibility for the regulations or their operation.
To qualify, a person must meet one or more of the following medical criteria which are specified in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994, which are not set by the Department of Health and Children: the applicant is wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; the applicant is wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs; the applicant is without both hands or without both arms; the applicant is without one or both legs; the applicant is wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg and the applicant has the medical condition of dwarfism and has serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
The medical assessment for and granting of a primary medical certificate for the purposes of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme is carried out by the senior area medical officer in the relevant health board. This function is to assist the Department of Finance who have statutory responsibility for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme.
With regard to my meeting with the delegation referred to by the Deputy in May 2001, I subsequently wrote to my colleague, the Minister for Finance about this matter. He advised me that the work of the review group which is currently examining all aspects of the scheme, including the medical criteria is ongoing.
