A59521 DDAI SteeringWheel23 - Flipbook - Page 11
STEERING Wheel
Disabled Drivers and
Disabled Passengers
Scheme | New 4th Category
Minister Michael McGrath
introduces additional reliefs for
wheelchair accessible vehicles
under the Disabled Drivers and
Disabled Passengers Scheme.
In June 2023 the Minister for Finance Michael
McGrath signed regulations that establishes a
fourth category of reliefs in the Disabled Drivers
and Disabled Passengers Scheme, for people
with disabilities who require complex and
signi昀椀cant adaptions to their vehicles to enable
in-vehicle wheelchair access.
The new reliefs provide up to €48,000 for
disabled drivers and €32,000 for disabled
passengers. This will be applicable to those who
have borne or paid VAT, VRT or residual VRT on
or after 1 August 2022.
After consultation with the Disabled Drivers
Association of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair
Association, a small number of disabled
drivers and disabled passengers with similar
requirements for in-vehicle wheelchair
accessibility was identi昀椀ed. On that basis and in
line with international evidence, the Minister has
introduced this fourth category of relief under the
scheme.
Minister McGrath commented:
“I am delighted to be in a position to sign these
regulations which will provide much needed
assistance for people who have very signi昀椀cant
and costly adaptation needs for wheelchair
accessible vehicles. I want to sincerely thank
Leigh Gath, who I met back in March, for
highlighting this issue and for her tireless work
advocating for people living with disability.
“While the changes I am making today are to be
welcomed, I do acknowledge that we must do
more to provide better transport and mobility
support options for people with disabilities
and the Ombudsman’s report last week further
highlighted this.
“The Final Report of the National Disability
Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group,
published back in February, indicated that
the current Disabled Drivers and Disabled
Passengers Scheme was outdated and should
be replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided
vehicular adaptation scheme.
“I welcome the Taoiseach’s comments last week
that he will convene all the relevant departments
to develop meaningful proposals arising from the
Working Group’s 昀椀nal report. My o昀케cials in the
Department of Finance will fully engage with this
process.”
Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte
said:
“I am very happy that these changes are being
made. Mobility is something we all can take for
granted but for people with disabilities they do
not have this luxury. It is vital we provide the
support for people with disabilities and enable
them to live independent lives.
“I chaired the National Disability Inclusion
Strategy Working Group and we published the
昀椀nal report back in February and I will be working
with Minister McGrath and my colleagues in
Government to advance the proposals arising
out that report.”
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