1000 disabled drivers waiting for a permit following resignation of appeals board in 2021

INDEPENDENT TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has described as “appalling” the way in which some of her disabled constituents and disabled applicants across the State are being treated when it comes to making an application for a permit through the disabled drivers and disabled passengers’ scheme.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after raising the matter with Tánaiste Micheál Martin in the Dáil during Leaders Questions.

The 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, open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or passenger.

But, as Deputy Nolan pointed out, to qualify for the relief the applicant must hold a primary medical certificate issued by the board of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. However, this is not happening and has not been happening for the last two years following the resignation of all members of the previous Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal in November 2021.

The Tánaiste agreed with Deputy Nolan when he accepted that she was “correct to say this has gone on for far too long. It is not satisfactory.”

He also indicated that he would engage with the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals to deal with the issue. He also agreed with Deputy Nolan that a review is needed of the criteria governing eligibility and the re-establishment of the board in the context of the conclusion of that review.

“I know from my engagement with the National Rehabilitation Hospital that 1,000 applications are still waiting to be processed by one person. This is up from the 726 severely disabled people who were awaiting an appeal at the end of last year,” said Deputy Nolan.

“Indeed, 382 of those appeals date back to 2021. This is absolutely no way to treat disabled people or any citizen of this State. It is leading to massive levels of isolation and frustration for disabled drivers and their families. It has to be dealt with urgently.

“Last December, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, when he was Minister for Finance, stated he was hopeful a new board would be up and running in January 2023. Here we are, seven months on, and the new board is still not in place,” said the Laois Offaly Deputy.

The Tánaiste, replying to Deputy Nolan, said that the Minister for Health is engaging with the National Rehabilitation Hospital in the context of the operation of this scheme to make sure there are sufficient numbers of necessary medical resources and staff, and on the broader issue of the volume of applications in terms of there being sufficient numbers on the board or to support the board in respect of processing the applications.

“I want to make the point that my constituents who have contacted me about this are frustrated. It is not good enough. We want to move forward with rights for disabled people. We have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. That was not before time, and we were one of the last countries to do so. We need to move forward and make sure our words match our actions. I welcome that the Tánaiste has said he will engage. It needs an urgent intervention, and it has to be made a priority,” concluded Deputy Nolan.