Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Finance if he shares the concerns that the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme is no longer fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28506/24]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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81. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 25 January 2024, if he is aware that the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme is limited to family members of the disabled person; his views on whether this restriction is in line with the Government’s commitments to the rights of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28515/24]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It was remiss of me during my previous question not to congratulate Deputy Chambers on his appointment as Minister for Finance. I offer him every good wish as he endeavours to take hold of a very important Department. Doing so is well within his grasp. I thank him for his co-operation in the various portfolios he has held over the past four years. It has been a pleasure working with him.

The disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme is no longer fit for purpose. I am Chair of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, where the question of putting a proper scheme in place is constantly raised. Perhaps the Minister might outline his and the Department’s thinking on this matter.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 81 together.

The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, DDS, is no longer fit for purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicular adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. However, this is a matter for the Government because, while my Department has oversight of the DDS, I do not have direct responsibility for disability policy.

As the Deputy is aware, the national disability and inclusion strategy, NDIS, transport working group recommended that the DDS be replaced with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme. This is in line with the general view that we need to move away from a medical criteria-based approach to a needs-based approach. Under the aegis of the Department of Taoiseach, officials from relevant Departments and agencies are meeting to discuss the issues arising from the NDIS report, including how the DDS can be replaced. The Department of Finance submitted a note to the group with my predecessor's approval in mid-January. This note outlined a proposal for a replacement scheme with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicular adaptations. Further consideration is being given to this matter through a group established in the Department of Taoiseach, which will start its work shortly and is expected to report in the autumn.

Regarding Deputy Wynne's question, only a related family member who is the primary transporter and carer of a disabled passenger who holds a primary medical certificate, PMC, is eligible for DDS provisions. I note that there is a specific and limited provision whereby a ward of court, who must be a PMC holder, may involve a non-related carer who is therefore eligible for DDS provisions. I am informed by Revenue that there are very few such cases.

Regarding the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the transition of wards of court to provisions under the Act, this matter is being considered by my officials, including the policy implications of this transition for the DDS.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. The Joint Committee on Disability Matters held an all-day meeting on 8 April. One of the main issues raised that day related to the criteria for the primary medical certificate. Some of the legislation that acts as the basis for the certificate dates from the late 1960s. Many people have said that the DDS is not fit for purpose but that the various other schemes and grants available to people to provide transport have been done away with over the years.

A report was sent to the Department of Finance in January. There is a great deal of interaction between that Department and the Departments of the Taoiseach, disability and health. I ask that the Minister do whatever he can to ensure that the report is published early this autumn and that, if legislative change is needed, it be laid before the Houses as soon as possible. On the face of it, one would expect certain people to qualify under the criteria for the primary medical certificate, but once they are assessed, they do not qualify and they are left without any mode of transport. This is a crucial issue. One fifth of the population has a disability of one type or another. There are many issues in the disability sector, but this one should be taken off the table and resolved once and for all.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I acknowledge Deputy Chambers's recent elevation to the post of Minister for Finance and I wish him well in his new role.

I have been raising in the House a particular case for the guts of two years. William cares for John in Kilkee, but purely on the basis that they are not related, they have been deemed ineligible for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. This has had detrimental effects on John’s health and access to treatment, as he cannot get into William’s car. Kilkee is a long distance from University Hospital Limerick and Croom and it is disappointing that I have not been able to get this matter resolved for John and William. John has actually missed out on important knee operations that he has needed. There is also the social and quality of life aspects, in that he has not been able to travel with his carer.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I will answer Deputy Moynihan first.

Extensive work is ongoing involving the Department with the group established by the Department of the Taoiseach. As I said to Deputy Pringle earlier, it is crucial that we try to make progress in this area. It has been going on for too long with too many reports and not enough progress for people who require the reform. Extensive work will now start to try to bring a report by the autumn. The intention of this, led by the Department of the Taoiseach, is to try to bring various structures together once and for all to bring about the necessary reform that has been referenced.

I appreciate the kind words of Deputy Wynne. To answer her question, there is a specific and limited provision which I set out in the reply whereby wards of court must be PMC holders and may involve a non-related carer who is eligible for the DDS provisions. With regard to the assisted decision-making Act, the transition of wards of court provisions under the Act are being considered by the officials, including the policy implications of the transition for the DDS. If Deputy Wynne sends on more details it will help to inform the wider discussion in the context of the decision-making Act.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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On the primary medical certificate criteria, we had an awful lot of submissions for the all-day meeting on 8 April, particularly on single amputees who had been involved in accidents in which they acquired injuries that changed their lives. This in particular was one of the issues raised. We had many correspondents from throughout the country on this. I cannot underestimate the frustration people have with the scheme. I ask the Minister to do whatever he can in his role to make sure the report is published as a matter of urgency. Many members of the disability matters committee have raised this issue in the Dáil and Seanad. I want to lend my voice to it. We need to get this resolved as a matter of urgency to show good cause to people who have disabilities and who are trying to carve out the best life for themselves with a disability. I appeal to the Minister to do whatever he can to ensure it is published and legislation is brought in for a new scheme as soon as possible.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I will send on the information about the case I mentioned. I heard in one of the responses earlier that another group will be established and it will report in the autumn. People watching at home will see another group and another report and will ask whether it is absolutely necessary. In a response I received in February, the Minister's predecessor outlined to me that he submitted a proposal for a replacement scheme for the DDS which would be a needs-based grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations. In respect of this, can any progress be made in the interim so we do not have to wait for a long time? People sitting at home are very frustrated at this point. They do not want to hear about further delays but about progress and solutions that would make their lives better.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I accept the ongoing frustration leading to both points that have been made. We are pursuing the reform of this in the context of the structure that has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach. As I said to Deputy Pringle earlier, I will be pursuing a timeline on the matter when the report is received. To respond to Deputy Moynihan's point, I will engage with my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on further reforms that might be required, which he has referenced, and I will come back to him directly on it.