The party’s national chair asks: “What use is a refund for adaptations needed on a car, if you can’t afford a car?”
Aontú has said the government’s new Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS) needs scrutiny to ensure it doesn’t leave disabled drivers worse off.
The party’s national chair Finian Toomey highlighted how stakeholders are concerned about the new car adaptation grant scheme, which was approved last week.
He said the introduction of the VAS is a move away from the old cost-neutral scheme, which removed VAT and VRT on cars to be adapted for use by those with mobility issues.
The new VAS is a grant-aid scheme that covers the cost of the adaptation only.
Under the Vehicle Adaptation Scheme – due to be introduced early next year – drivers with a less severe disability will no longer get off a car but instead will have the cost of an adaptation refunded.
Toomey – Aontú representative for Cork city north-west – said: “This scheme will only refund the cost of the adaption, but what use is an adaption if you can’t afford a car?
“In a cost-of-living crisis, there is a likelihood disabled people will now only be able to get the cost of an adaptation grant aided under the VAS scheme by the Department of Transport.
“But they may not be able to afford the car itself, as the remission of VAT and VRT -currently €10,000 – €16,000 – will no longer be available for those with mild to moderate disability.
“It will cause further financial strain to some of the most vulnerable Irish people already dealing with disability poverty.
“We have been informed that disabled people and their families who care for their transport will end up driving older less efficient and less reliable vehicles due to the scheme change. “This new proposed VAS scheme shows a lack of understanding about the needs of disabled drivers and passengers across Ireland. This will affect up to 400,000 people in Ireland.
“At a meeting held with industry experts, a representative from the Department of Transport said owning a car was a privilege and not a right in Ireland and the Department of Finance representative outlined how the new VAS scheme would save the department money.
“But for disabled people, it is a basic human right to be given dignity and respect and to be independently mobile in a modern world.
“Considering the proposed VAS scheme is set to be implemented in January 2027, there is a lot to be finalised on it. Currently, there are more questions than answers on how exactly it will work.”
He added: “VAS puts the needs of disabled people back to the 1950’s prior to the establishment of the current Disabled Drivers & Passengers Scheme.
“It is disgraceful in 2026 how Government would try to implement such regressive measures for disabled people.
“The existing scheme, while in need of some improvements, offers adequate support and certainty to the disabled drivers and passengers of Ireland.”
