Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2026
75. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, by county, for each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10730/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra76. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of applications received for the disabled drivers scheme by county in each of the years 2021 to 2025; and the number of unsuccessful and successful appeals; in tabular form. [10731/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together.
Only those individuals who hold a Primary Medical Certificate or a Board Medical Certificate can apply in respect of a qualifying vehicle for reliefs, fuel grant and motor tax exemption as provided for by the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS). Certain qualifying organisations can also apply to the DDS subject to meeting specific requirements.
Individuals apply for a Primary Medical Assessment to the HSE. A Primary Medical Officer (PMO) determines if an individual meets at least one of six medical eligibility criteria. Only those who meet at least one of the six criteria will be awarded a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC).
If the HSE PMO determines the individual does not meet any of the six medical criteria to be awarded a PMC, they may lodge a request for an appeal hearing to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA). The DDMBA's role is to review the decision of the HSE Primary Medical Officer to determines if an appellant now meets any of the six medical eligibility criteria. Only if an appellant meets at least one of the six eligibility criteria will the Board issue a Board Medical Certificate.
I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs or appeals associated with them and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.
Since 2025, data on new request for appeal hearings have been collected to include county of residence of the appellant. County level data on appeal hearing requests is not available for the years 2021 to 2024.
The following table sets out the county of residence of new requests for appeal hearings received in 2025.
|
County |
Number of Appellants |
|
Carlow |
10 |
|
Cavan |
7 |
|
Clare |
11 |
|
Cork |
90 |
|
Donegal |
19 |
|
Dublin City and County |
83 |
|
Galway |
34 |
|
Kerry |
14 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
|
Laois |
4 |
|
Leitrim |
3 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
|
Longford |
5 |
|
Louth |
9 |
|
Mayo |
23 |
|
Meath |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
14 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
7 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
|
Wexford |
24 |
|
Unknown/Not Provided |
12 |
|
Total New Appellants |
439 |
The following table sets out the number of appellants who were awarded, and those not awarded, a Board Medical Certificate on foot of an appeal hearing.
|
Year |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 (Appeals recommenced December) |
2022 |
2021 |
|
Number of Appellants |
318 |
378 |
94 |
0 |
148 |
|
Number of Appellants awarded Board Medical Certificate |
246 |
259 |
52 |
0 |
12 |
|
Number of Appellants not awarded Board Medical Certificate |
72 |
119 |
42 |
0 |
136 |
