I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 172 together.
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on 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. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the six medical criteria.
Efforts are on-going to establish a new DDMBA. Following the resignation of all members of the previous Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, effective from 30th November 2021, two Expression of Interest campaigns have been held, seeking suitable candidates for the Board. The Department of Health leads on all actions and tasks with respect to the Expression of Interest Campaigns. Department of Finance officials provide support to the Department of Health in this matter.
The first campaign closed on 29th April. As there were insufficient suitable candidates arising from the first campaign, a second round was issued with a closing date of 5th July 2022. From these, three suitable candidates have successfully completed Garda vetting. Five members are legislatively required for a functional Board with a quorum of three needed for any appeal hearing. Two other candidates have recently been interviewed and if nominated by the Minister for Health will undergo Garda vetting.
Once these processes have been completed for all candidates I will then be in a position to appoint any suitable Department of Health nominee to the Board. When the new Board is up and running, it will consider the best way of ensuring outstanding appeals are addressed as quickly as possible.
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.
Applicants deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC can request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment.
Additionally, I committed to a comprehensive review of the DDS to include a broader review of mobility supports. In order to achieve this objective, Minister O’Gorman agreed in September 2021 that the DDS review should be incorporated into the work of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group (TWG).
The Working Group, under the Chairpersonship of Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, held a number of meetings across 2022 and is expected to hold its final meeting in early December. The Working Group will produce its report shortly afterwards.
As part of its engagement in this process, the Department of Finance established an information-gathering Criteria Sub-group (CSG) at the start of this year. Its membership comprised of former members of the DDMBA and Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) in the HSE. Its purpose was to capture their experiences, expertise and perspectives in relation to the practical operational and administrative challenges of the DDS, as well as to explore what alternative vehicular arrangements were available for those with mobility issues based on international experience. The CSG work led to the production of five papers and a technical annex, submitted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in July 2022.
The main conclusion of the CSG is that the DDS needs to be replaced with a fit for purpose, needs-based vehicular adaptation scheme in line with best international practice. Both I and my Department share this view.
In relation to the argument that the scope of the DDS should be broadened, I do not believe this is either feasible or credible as any change or expansion of eligibility criteria for the DDS will still require an individual to 'prove' they meet that criteria and conversely there will still be individuals that will be deemed not to meet the criteria i.e. the scheme will still adhere to an 'in or out' policy rationale. Such an approach has the potential to make already highly contested Primary Medical Certificate and appeals processes even more difficult, for the HSE, for the DDMBA, and for individuals.
This conclusion, together with design principles and parameters for the new scheme as based on international practice, were incorporated into a response to three questions posed in September 2022 to members of the NDIS Transport Working Group, in respect of proposals for enhanced, new and/or reconfigured supports to meet the transport and mobility needs for those with a disability. I trust these proposals will receive the appropriate consideration.
