Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
199. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine removing the two-year validity of the EU parking permit for disabled drivers to avoid people with disabilities having to re-apply every two years; if he will outline, given that a disability is permanent, what the rationale is for only providing the card for two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49171/23]
View answerThe two-year validity period for the disabled parking permit is set out in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, as amended. Following a stakeholder consultation in 2009/2010, it was decided to retain the defined period for all permit holders.
My Department and the bodies which issue the permits, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), are aware that the renewal requirement may be inconvenient for people with permanent mobility impairment. However, the DDAI and the IWA consider that extending this period, or providing a lifelong permit, would compromise permit security and increase the potential for fraud. Regular renewal ensures that the photograph is current and that enforcement authorities (An Garda Síochána and local authority traffic wardens) can confirm the permit holder’s identity and their entitlement to the permit.
A defined validity period also restricts the time that a lost or stolen permit, or a permit for a person who is since deceased, can be used. An Garda Síochána. as part of Operation Enable in 2017, identified the latter as a particularly widespread problem, even within the two-year limit. To extend the expiry period would greatly expand the potential for this kind of fraud.
Permit fraud takes disabled parking bays away from those who need them and undermines the Disabled Parking Scheme. While most permit holders are fully compliant with the scheme, it is important to maximise security and minimise opportunities for fraud and misuse. Accordingly, the issuing bodies consistently stress the need to keep track of who possesses a permit and to ensure that permits issued to people who have since died are taken out of circulation as quickly as possible. Given this, there are no plans to extend the current expiry period.
