Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 644: To ask the Minister for Transport the outcome of a review commitment made in September 2006 where he stated that the present statutory scheme for grant and use of parking permits is under review in his Department in consultation with the relevant bodies with a view to strengthening the provisions further and to ensure that the scheme is confined strictly to those who meet the restricted mobility criterion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10283/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997 empower local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association, to grant a disabled person's parking permit to a person who is suffering from a disability that is of a nature that prevents him or her from walking or causes undue hardship to the person in walking.

A review of all aspects of the disabled person's parking permit is still ongoing in my Department. The progress made to date has been in the area of strengthening the enforcement provisions. The first step to address this is through amendments made in the Road Traffic Act 2004 to strengthen the on-street enforcement against illegal use of permits.

Secondly, the fixed charge system that was introduced in April 2006 applies a level of fixed charge in respect of illegal parking in a designated disabled persons parking bay that is double the fixed charge that applies to any other illegal parking offence.

Thirdly, significant amendments were also made in section 20 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 in relation to the making of a false declaration in the application for a permit and in relation to forgery, alteration or other illegal use or lending of a permit. The 2006 Act also provided for increased maximum fines that the courts may impose on those convicted of offences, including illegal parking. The latter provision was commenced earlier this month. Further new legislative provisions in relation to the inspection of permits and the detention of permits that are invalid or being used illegally are being progressed at present.

Now that so much progress has been made in relation to enforcement and safeguarding against illegal use of permits, the next step is to complete the review in relation to eligibility for issue of a permit and it is intended that this process will be completed this year.