12 May 2011

Parliamentary Questions

• Refund of VAT or vehicle registration tax in respect of vehicles used for the transport of persons with disabilities
• A Vision for Change
• Review of General Allocation Model for allocation of special needs resources

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Refund of VAT or vehicle registration tax in respect of vehicles used for the transport of persons with disabilities

Deputy Michael Creed (FG): asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the situation regarding a refund of VAT or vehicle registration tax in respect of vehicles used for the transport of persons with disabilities;

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan):  I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 134(3) of the Finance Act 1992 (as amended) and Statutory Instrument No. 353 of 1994 (Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994 (as amended) provide for permanent relief from the payment of specified maximum amounts of VAT and VRT for persons registered under the scheme. The Deputy may wish to note that an individual who qualifies under the scheme may obtain relief as a driver or a passenger in respect of VRT and VAT subject to a maximum of: *€9,525 for a driver *€15,875 for a passenger. This relief (comprising both VAT and VRT) is available on the registration of a vehicle in the State where such vehicle has been constructed or adapted for use by the person with a qualifying disability and has an engine size of less than 2,000cc in the case of a driver and 4,000cc in the case of a passenger. Additionally, in the case of a qualifying passenger, the cost of the modifications must amount to at least 10% of the tax free cost of the vehicle. The Deputy may also wish to note that comprehensive information relating to the relief scheme is available on the Revenue website at: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/drivers-passengers-with-disabilities-tax-relief-scheme.html

• A Vision for Change

Deputy Dessie Ellis (SF): asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to enact legislation which protects the rights of persons with disabilities and binds public and private sector employers and service providers to operate with regard to the principles of A Vision for Change.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Government is committed to reviewing the Mental Health Act 2001; my officials are currently scoping out the review which is expected to commence shortly. In the context of the review, the extent to which the recommendations of ‘A Vision for Change’ could or should be underpinned by legislation, will be considered. The review will also consider the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

• Review of General Allocation Model for allocation of special needs resources

Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (L): asked the Minister for Education and Skills    when a review of the general allocation model for allocation of special needs resources will be initiated in order for these essential resources to be targeted where they are needed most.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):  A review of the General Allocation Model (GAM) for the allocation of learning support/resource teaching support to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs in primary schools has been undertaken by my Department. This review has been completed. The recommendations of the review will be considered in the context of the Departments Employment Control Framework obligations and competing demands on teacher numbers and educational resources.

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