Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 4

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Enda Kenny

Question:

194 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure an increase in the number of parking spaces available for people with disabilities; his plans to increase the fine for unauthorised parking in a designated parking space for the disabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20875/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997, empower local authorities to provide parking bays for disabled persons. In addition, the same regulations provide that local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association may issue parking permits to disabled persons, thus giving them an entitlement to park cars displaying the permits in such bays. Following the introduction of these provisions, local authorities were requested to consider the provision of more disabled persons' parking bays. I do not have a supervisory role in this matter.

Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 2002, which was passed by the Oireachtas in March, provides for major increases in certain financial penalties for road traffic offences, including an increase in the general penalty that applies to the majority of offences under the Road Traffic Acts, including the offence of illegally parking in a disabled persons' parking bay. I recently made an Order, the Road Traffic Act 2002 (Commencement) Order, 2002 – SI No. 491 of 2002 – which gives effect to that section from 31 October 2002. Where a person is convicted of this offence, he or she is liable to a fine not exceeding €800 for a first offence or a fine not exceeding €1,500 for a second or subsequent offence. If a third or subsequent such offence is committed within 12 months the person is liable to a fine not exceeding €1,500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both. The determination of the fine to be imposed in each case is a matter for the courts.

The offence of parking illegally in a disabled persons' parking bay currently comes within the scope of the on-the-spot fines system. The amount of fine applicable to this offence is €19, which is the level that applies to the majority of parking offences. Where an on-the-spot fine notice is issued, it is open to the person to whom the notice is addressed to pay the relevant amount to avoid the matter proceeding to court. The Road Traffic Act, 2002, provides for the replacement of the current on-the-spot fines system by a fixed charge system. The new fixed charge system will be introduced in due course and it will bring greater certainty to the application of administrative charges for the majority of traffic and parking offences. It will feature, a provision through which the original amount of the fixed charge will automatically increase by 50% where payment is not made within 28 days of the date of the original notice.