QUESTION NO:  215

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Health (Ms. Lynch) by Deputy Martin Heydon for WRITTEN ANSWER on 03/07/2014

*  To ask the Minister for Health his plans to review the current driving concessions available for persons with disabilities and who require assistance and support with driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Martin Heydon T.D.
REPLY. Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding its legal status in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both the Motorised Transport Grant and the Mobility Allowance schemes to new applicants in February 2013.  On 26th November 2013, the Government decided to assign to the Minister for Health, the responsibility for the development of a new statutory travel payment scheme.  The Department of Health is working to develop proposals on foot of the Government’s decision.
If the Deputy is referring to any plans to review the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Concessions Scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, he should enquire of the Minister for Finance in this regard. In addition the Disabled Parking Scheme comes under the Road Traffic Regulations of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.