November 24 2009

Parliamentary Questions

• Completion date for review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme
• Date for publishing Capacity Legislation
• Grants to National Learning Network

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Completion date for review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme

Deputy Arthur Morgan (SF): asked the Minister for Finance when a review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme 1994 will be complete; if he will make changes to ensure the scheme is more open and transparent;

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of the Disabled Drivers Scheme. It examined the current benefits, the qualifying medical criteria, the Exchequer costs, relationship with other schemes and similar schemes in other countries. The report also made a number of recommendations, both immediate and long-term, referring respectively to the operation of the appeals process and options for the future development of the scheme. The Group’s report is published on my Department’s website. Some 13,000 people benefited under the scheme in 2008 at an overall estimated cost of €76 million. Any changes would have to be considered in the context of the annual Budget. 

• Date for publishing Capacity Legislation

Deputy Deirdre Clune (FG): asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will be in a position to publish the capacity legislation which when enacted will allow for ratification of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities;

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The Government Legislation Programme, published on 16 September 2009, indicates that the Mental Capacity Bill is expected to be published in early 2010. 

• Grants to National Learning Network

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd (FG): asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding by way of grant or subsidies or other supports granted to a college (details supplied) in County Dublin for each of the past five years;

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): My Department provides grant aid to the National Learning Network (NLN), previously known as Rehab, to facilitate the delivery of an education service to young adults with learning disabilities in a number of centres nationwide. This grant is administered by the NLN from its location in Roslyn Park College. The information requested by the Deputy, in respect of funding provided by my Department in the last five years is detailed as follows:

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