It is "extremely disappointing" that the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is still not in place. That's according to Sinn Fein TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Deputy Pauline Tully who says that it is well past time for the replacement board to be established.
She highlighted how all members of the previous board resigned on the 30 November, 2021 and as a direct result, appeals cannot be heard until a new board is in place. The local TD highlighted how people have now been waiting 14 months for the new board to be appointed and the list continues to grow rapidly.
Deputy Tully added that as of the 31st of December 2021, there were 382 people awaiting an appeal hearing and this has now grown to 759 people. "The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) provides relief from VRT 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 who also meet one of six specified medical criteria. In order to qualify for the Scheme, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are, however, extremely stringent and this led to the resignation of the entire previous board.
"A review of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, was promised at the time by the previous Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe. This, however, was lumped in with a review of two other transport schemes for disabled people that were closed in 2013 to new applicants - the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance - and has yet to be completed," she said.
