James O'Connor
Ceist:143. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons currently availing of the disabled drivers and passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39194/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 November 2020
Ceisteanna (143)
Freagraí scríofa
The Disabled Driver and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides for relief on VAT and VRT, based on how much the car has been adapted and whether the beneficiary is a driver or passenger, up to a maximum of
- Disabled drivers: €10,000
- Disabled passengers: €16,000
- Specifically adapted vehicles for drivers with severe disabilities: €16,000 (Specifically adapted vehicles are vehicles that need significant adaptations)
- Extensively adapted vehicles for drivers and passengers: €22,000 (Extensively adapted vehicles are vehicles that need adaptations that cost more than the open market selling price of the vehicle being adapted)
Under the rules of the Scheme a claim for VRT and VAT relief on an adapted car may be made every 2, 3 or 6 years, depending on the extent to which the car has been adapted. As such the Scheme data captures the volume of claims in a given period rather than the number of persons who may be eligible to make a claim.
In 2019, the Scheme supported the purchase of 6,374 vehicles, while the related Fuel Grant Scheme made over 12,000 payments in 2019. In the year to date, the Scheme has supported the purchase of 4,348 vehicles, with over 10,000 fuel grant payments made.
The cost of the Scheme in the year to date is approximately €44 million in terms of VRT and VAT foregone and over €8.5 million in terms of the fuel grant. The cost of the Scheme in 2019 was €72 million, comprising of VRT and VAT foregone as well as the fuel grant.