People with disabilities will be ‘abandoned’ due to suspension of car tax breaks



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People with a disability who do not have access to public transportation will be “marooned” after tax breaks and other incentives for them to buy a car are removed, according to an independent TD.

People with disabilities who bought or adapted a car had previously been eligible for reductions in VRT and VAT, free motor tax, free highway travel and fuel subsidies.

However, the Finance Department has suspended the plan after it was challenged in the Supreme Court.

This is a huge blow to anyone with a disability or mobility impairment who does not have access to public transport and we are talking about large swaths of rural and regional Ireland.

Independent TD Denis Naughten said the loss of the plan is a major setback for thousands of vulnerable people.

“Well this is a huge blow to anyone with disabilities or mobility problems who does not have access to public transport and we are talking about large swaths of rural and regional Ireland, where now effectively disabled people are going to be abandoned,” he said .

Mr Naughten said the scheme should be restored as soon as possible: “I think it is imperative that it becomes a priority.

“I am surprised and disappointed that the department officials were not prepared for a decision they obtained last June in the Supreme Court, they would have been aware of the risks, they should have acted on them immediately after that, instead of suspending the scheme. . “

Disability services

It occurs when Family Carers Ireland has requested the resumption of services for people with disabilities in the state.

The group said resuming services after closure is crucial, as many caregivers suffer from burnout.

The call is part of your pre-budget presentation, which also includes the increase in the caregiver support grant from € 1,700 to € 2,000.

“Even before the Covid crisis hit us, 75 percent of caregivers experienced difficulties accessing services,” said the group’s manager of policy and public affairs, Clare Duffy.

“So now that we have the blanket retirement, or at best, the severe reduction in services, things are now even worse.”

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