John Dennehy
Ceist:256 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Finance the progress made by the review group on the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. [4998/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 February 2005
Ceisteanna (207, 208)
John Dennehy
Ceist:272 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Finance if he will give an update on the progress of the review group dealing with the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; when their report will be published; if blind persons are included in the category of passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5014/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 272 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the interdepartmental review group which was established to review the scheme. It examined all aspects of the scheme, including qualifying medical criteria, benefits and the appeals process. The report of the group was published on my Department's website in July 2004 and copies have been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
Following the report's recommendations concerning the appeals process, amendments to the regulations governing the scheme were made to improve the operation of the appeals process. These were signed by the Minister for Finance on 23 July 2004. These amendments provided for an expansion of the panel of medical practitioners serving on the medical board of appeal from three to five. The appeals process was amended by the introduction of a six-month waiting period between an appeal and subsequent application, and the introduction of the requirement for a second or subsequent application to be certified by a registered medical practitioner to the effect that there has been material disimprovement in the medical condition since the previous application.
Given the scale and scope of the scheme, further changes can only be made after careful consideration. For this reason, the Government has decided that the Minister for Finance will consider the recommendations contained in the report of the interdepartmental review group in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme.