Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Parking Regulations.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

316 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people applying for the disabled persons parking badge find the procedure very bureaucratic; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that some of the requirements of the application, for example, the requirement to have a passport size photograph, presents great difficulties for some disabled people; if he will make recommendations to local authorities and all other agencies to review procedures in this regard particularly in cases where the badge is being renewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22755/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997, empower local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association, to grant disabled person's parking permits to a disabled person who is suffering from a disability that prevents that person from walking or causes undue hardship to the person in walking. While there are no regulatory requirements with regard to the application pro cedures, the concerns indicated in the question have been noted for the purpose of proposed discussions between my Department and the issuing authorities.

The disabled person's parking permit was introduced in Ireland some years ago and is modelled on a standardised parking card for people with disabilities developed at EU level; in accordance with a Council recommendation this card is intended to be available in all member states by 1 January 2000. The EU format includes provision for a photograph of the holder to be included on the card. The standardised format has been designed to facilitate mutual recognition of arrangements for the benefit of people with disabilities between EU member states.