Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
245 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if an evaluation has been done with a view to a determination of the precise number of disabled passengers and disabled drivers likely to benefit from a liberalisation of the regulation of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers regulations 1994; when he will initiate improvements in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30284/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the report of the interdepartmental review group, established to examine the operation of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme, reference was made to a move away from qualification for the scheme being determined by specified medical criteria in favour of an approach addressing mobility difficulties. However, the report also stated that on the basis of figures received from reports from representative organisations who made submissions to the review group there could be as many as 92,000 people who consider that they should be admitted to the scheme either in its present form or in a revised format. The Government has agreed that I will consider the report on an ongoing basis in the overall budgetary context having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme.
