Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
321. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance what action his Department is taking to appoint a board for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal to deal with appeals under the disabled drivers and passengers tax relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56696/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraProgress has been made on efforts to convene a new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals (DDMBA), and to recommence the appeals process.
I have now formally appointed all five members to the new DDMBA and appeal hearings recommenced in the first half of December 2023.
I appreciate that it has taken far longer than anticipated to get to this point. With the Department of Health, Department of Finance officials have had to run four Expression of Interest campaigns over 18 months to source the legislatively required five members. Officials have also had to re-negotiate new hosting arrangements with the NRH following their withdrawal of services in February 2023.
Finally, I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.
