Finian McGrath
Ceist:185 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider waiving the fee for the disabled drivers parking card [36654/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 13 October 2010
Ceisteanna (130)
Freagraí scríofa
Disabled parking permits are issued on behalf of my Department by the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI). A fee is charged by these organisations for the issue of permits in order to cover the cost of administering the scheme and producing the cards. For some time, the fee charged by the DDAI and IWA has been €25. While I as Minister have power under the Road Traffic Act 2004 to make regulations setting a maximum fee, I have not to date done this. Last July I published a review of the disabled parking scheme conducted by my Department. One of the recommendations of the review, which I have accepted, is that a maximum fee which may be charged for the issuing of a disabled parking permit should be set at €35. The reason for this is to allow the IWA and DDAI to invest in improving security features of the card. It would remain open to the issuing organisations to charge less than this maximum. My Department is currently preparing regulations to give effect to the recommendations of the disabled parking review.