Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
306. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance when the new disabled drivers medical board of appeal will be in place; the number of appeals waiting to be reviewed since the resignation of all members of the previous disabled drivers medical board of appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37028/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra309. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 16 June 2022, the status of the recruitment of persons to the disabled drivers medical board of appeal; when the new board will be appointed and be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37119/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra319. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when an appeal (details supplied) will be heard by the disabled drivers medical board of appeal; the reason for the delay in having this appeal heard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37260/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 309 and 319 together.
The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant. The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain charitable organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other qualifying criteria apply in relation to the vehicle, in particular that it must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the following medical criteria, in order to obtain a Primary Medical Certificate:
- 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. In the event that a PMC is not granted by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer an appeal may be made to the independent Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) who operate out of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE must be independent in their clinical determinations. Following the resignation of all members of the previous Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal an Expression of Interest seeking suitable candidates for the Board closed on 29th April 2022. The selection process is nearing its final stages for this initial round of recruitment. A second Expression of Interest campaign, which closed on the 5th July, was launched to seek additional applicants. The selection process for this campaign is ongoing.
There has been 193 requests for appeal in 2022 to end of June. There are 382 appeals outstanding from 2021. Requests for appeal hearings can be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. New appeal hearing dates will be issued once the new Board is in place. Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place.
