Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
407. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons awarded a primary medical certificate on appeal rather than at the initial application stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15700/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOnly 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 determine 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, the Minister, 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.
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 in the last 5 years.
|
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 |
