Vol. 487 No. 5
129 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ask the Garda authorities to use their discretionary powers and withdraw an on-the-spot parking fine on a senior citizen (details supplied) who has parked the car outside her home on a very wide pathway for almost 40 years and is a law abiding citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4462/98]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that, in December last, a number of fine on-the-spot notices were issued in respect of vehicles parked on the footpath in question, including a vehicle owned by the person referred to by the Deputy. This was following the receipt of a complaint concerning illegally parked vehicles. The Garda authorities say that they regularly received complaints from the public about vehicles being illegally parked on this footpath as such parking can cause considerable annoyance to the elderly, persons with disabilities and young children.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that, apart from the statutory exemptions, there are no legal provisions whereby concessions can be extended to any particular individual. The district officer may cancel notices in specific circumstances provided by law, but in this case the local district officer having met with the person referred to by the Deputy to discuss her situation is of the view that it would not be appropriate to cancel the notice in her case.
