There is a two-year backlog in dealing with appeals from disabled people who have been refused tax breaks for modifying their cars, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.
About 600 people who were refused the concessions are appealing, but there are lengthy delays in processing applications, the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Service heard.
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concession) Scheme provides about 50 per cent of the purchase price of a new car through concessions such as Vat and VRT waivers.
It is run by the Department of Finance with the Revenue Commissioners, and appeals on rulings can be made to a board of appeal, appointed by the Minister for Finance.
The scheme cost an estimated €45 million last year and gave the concessions to 8,900 disabled drivers or passengers.
Able-bodied drivers can have their cars modified for a disabled passenger if the relevant criteria are met.
Yesterday, the Department of Finance agreed that the delays were a serious problem.
Niamh Campbell, the department's head of indirect taxation policy, said there were "very real difficulties" with the appeals backlog but "very significant efforts" had been made to deal with this.
