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Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Ceisteanna (160)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Ceist:

160. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to widen the criteria to allow a person (details supplied) suffering from a rare syndrome to qualify for the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3161/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax, an exemption from motor tax and a grant in respect of fuel expenditure, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a permanently and severely disabled person within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994.

The scheme and qualifying criteria were designed specifically for those with severe physical disabilities and are, therefore, necessarily precise. To qualify for the scheme an applicant must be in possession of a primary medical certificate, which can be obtained from a Senior Medical Officer of the HSE, if an applicant meets one of the following conditions:

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

- be 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;

- be without both hands or without both arms;

- be without one or both legs;

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

An applicant who is unsuccessful in applying for a PMC can appeal the decision of the Senior Medical Officer to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal which makes a new clinical decision within the scope of the six qualifying criteria. The Regulations mandate that the Medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions to ensure the integrity of its clinical determinations. After six months, a citizen can reapply if there is a deterioration in their condition.

From time to time representations are received on behalf of individuals who feel they would benefit from the scheme but do not qualify under the criteria. While I have sympathy for these cases, given the scale and scope of the scheme, I have no plans to expand the medical criteria beyond the six currently provided for in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994.

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