The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is hosted by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on behalf of the Department of Finance. The cost of the Board has been recouped to the NRH since 2005 from the Department of Finance Vote.
The amounts recouped to the NRH was €320,323 for 2008 and €371,467 for 2009. These amounts include the salary costs of the Chairperson of the Board who also works as a consultant with the NRH and Beaumont Hospital.
The number of appeals that were received, granted, refused and the number of appeals still on hand at the end of each year, is as follows:
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No. of appeals received
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No. of appeals granted
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No. of appeals refused
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No. of appeals still on hand at year end
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2008
|
354
|
60
|
319
|
49
|
2009
|
405
|
37
|
202
|
62
|
In addition to the Chairperson, two doctors from a panel of doctors attend each Appeal Board sitting. The average waiting time for an appeal, where the appellant can travel to Dublin, is approximately four to six weeks, down from six months in 2007 and for around two years in mid 2005.