Subsidies for Dedicated Transport Service Providers to Purchase Special Needs Vehicles

Dr Shahira Abdullah asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether there has been an increase in the number of purchases for special needs vehicles, such as retrofitted vehicles, that can cater to wheelchairs; and (b) whether there are subsidies for dedicated transport service providers to purchase these vehicles.

The number of new registrations of vehicles that can cater to wheelchairs has remained stable over the past five years, averaging about 70 such vehicles per year. As of end-September 2022, there were about 1,000 such vehicles registered.

For seniors and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) who are unable to use the various forms of public transport unassisted, MSF administers the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) Grant Scheme. Eligible non-profit organisations can apply for this to subsidise the cost of COE and Additional Registration Fee for commercial vehicles used to transport elderly or PwD clients who are unable to use public transport unassisted.