Limerick based woman 'punished for having disability' with car fees of up to €23k

CAR MODIFICATIONS costing more than €20k is what one disabled Limerick-based woman was told she might have to face, following a trip to the UK - the only place a car suitable for her needs was available.

Leigh Gath, a full time wheelchair user living in Pallaskenry, has had to organise a personal meeting with Minister of Finance, Michael McGrath, following a €23,000 Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) fee to drive a car she needs. VRT is the fee that occurs when importing vehicles from the UK into Ireland.

Leigh was born with residual limbs from the drug thalidomide being given to pregnant women in the 1950’s and 1960’s for morning sickness - her mother had only ingested three pills in total.

The nature of the disability means that she only has two types of suitable vehicles available to her, and she cannot get the essential modifications done in Ireland.

In addition, Sinn Féin Senator, Limerick's Paul Gavan, has gone to the Seanad and challenged the government to urgently reform the Disabled Drivers Scheme, which is the legal act that initiates Value Added Tax (VAT) and VRT fees on modified vehicles.

Leigh said: “I have gotten the modifications done, but I can’t afford to change the UK registration plates to Irish. I’m not going to be paying it.

“There is a lift on the side of my car for my wheelchair, and buttons that I can use for different functions, such as opening doors and swivelling the seat.

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“Anybody who needs or has significant modifications like me, the Disabled Drivers Scheme actually punishes them - if your disability was more minor, adjustments would be covered in full.”

Senator Gavan aims to ensure disabled people are not charged VAT or VRT on essential modifications to their vehicles that have to be imported from Britain. This covers Leigh, who has worked closely with Senator Gavan on this issue.

Learning to drive at age 17, the County Down native has always had to have her vehicles modified in the UK. There is nobody in Ireland who has the expertise to install the modifications.

Leigh raised the valid issue of the future for other wheelchair users and electric vehicles, as she explained how these new chargeable automobiles are unsuitable for most: “I have never had to pay substantial fees like this - the rules on VRT have changed greatly in the last couple of years and are mostly to do with emissions.

“The thing about it is they are not equitable for people with disabilities - if you use a wheelchair, and you bring your chair into the vehicle with you, you cannot drive an electric vehicle because the battery takes up the whole of the underfloor space.

“This means a lift cannot be fitted and therefore, you’ve got no choice but to drive a petrol or diesel car but then you’re penalised for driving these due to emissions, which is problematic for the future.”

Leigh continued by saying that this won’t only affect the use of personal vehicles, but also daycare buses and wheelchair taxis.

She concluded by saying “disabled people will just not be able to move out of their homes.”

Thalidomide created a range of disabilities in babies including shortening and absence of limbs, malformation of hands, damage to ears and eyes, sensory impairment, facial disfigurement and damage to the brain, internal organs and skeletal structure.

The drug was prescribed to pregnant women for severe morning sickness and labelled ‘safe’ at the time, but babies had complex health issues when born. Leigh said that the pills made her mother “so sleepy, she couldn’t function”.

Leigh and Senator Gavan’s attempts to speak to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Equality have been successful and they are now awaiting confirmation as to what will be done to resolve the issue.