Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2019
894. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason persons with hidden disabilities are not entitled to the disabled person's parking card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45106/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disabled Parking Permit (also known as the European Parking Card or Disabled Parking Badge) is available to people living in Ireland whose mobility is severely restricted, whether they are drivers or passengers, and also to those who are registered blind. In 2010 the Department conducted a review of the Disabled Parking Scheme, in consultation with various stakeholders and one of the issues examined was eligibility for the scheme. As a result of the review the scheme was revised so that permits are now given on the basis of mobility impairment rather than the diagnosis of a particular condition or illness. This is in line with the original intention of the scheme.
People whose invisible disability directly affects their ability to walk may in fact qualify for the permit. The possibility of extending the eligibility criteria for the scheme to include people with invisible disabilities which do not necessarily impair mobility, meanwhile, has been raised on a number of occasions and the Department has consulted extensively with the joint issuing authorities of the scheme, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWC), on this matter. In light of this consultation there are currently no plans to change the criteria.
I would particularly emphasise to the Deputy that issuing a large number of extra permits by extending the eligibility criteria would in fact put the existing scheme under significant additional pressure and compromise the availability of disabled parking spaces in general.
