Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an update on measures to reconstitute the Disabled Drivers Medical Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42241/23]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an update as to when the disabled drivers scheme will have a new appeals board in place; to confirm how many appeals were awaiting determination on 26 September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42261/23]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Finance when the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal will be appointed; the reason for the delay in appointing this board given the fact that the Board has not been functioning since the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42491/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 239 and 253 together.

Progress has been made on efforts to convene a new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals (DDMBA), to secure hosting arrangements for the DDMBA and to recommence the appeals process.

I have now formally appointed all five members to the new DDMBA. Funding arrangements between the Department of Finance and the Department of Health have been agreed. On this basis the National Rehabilitation Hospital {NRH) has confirmed they will again host the DDMBA. Preparatory work is underway, that will include due deliberation on how best to clear the backlog of appeal hearing requests. The appeals process will re-commence upon completion of this work. In parallel, my officials are working with the NRH to conclude other conditions for the hosting arrangements, which may continue after the appeals process is again up and running.

I appreciate that it has taken far longer than anticipated to get to this point. With the Department of Health we have had to run four Expression of Interest campaigns over 18 months to source the legislatively required five members. We have also had to re-negotiate new hosting arrangements with the NRH following their withdrawal of services in February 2023.

As of end August 2023 (latest data available) there were 1,079 appeals outstanding.

Finally you should note that 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.