Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the persons entitled to a disabled person's parking permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49759/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a car can be used for disabled parking if not adapted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49760/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person with a car that has not been adapted can be entitled to a disabled parking permit when used for disabled users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49761/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.

The Disabled Parking Permit is available to people living in Ireland who have a permanent condition or disability that severely restricts his or her ability to walk. Under the Disabled Parking Permit scheme, people who are Primary Medical Certificate holders or registered blind are automatically eligible to avail of the scheme. People who are not holders of the Primary Medical Certificate or registered blind are required to have their application form completed by a certified medical practitioner.

The medical criteria for issue of the permit are strict and only persons whose mobility is severely and permanently restricted qualify. These criteria were revised and clarified in my Department’s Review of the Disabled Parking Scheme in 2010. Specific measures for the degree of impairment of lung capacity and the severity level of heart conditions which apply are given in the Guidelines for Medical Practitioners. These Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines can be found on the Road Safety Authority website at www.rsa.ie.

The Disabled Parking scheme is operated on behalf of my Department by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA).  Details on eligibility and how to apply for a Permit are available on their respective websites www.iwa.ieand www.ddai.ie. 

The Disabled Parking Permit is assigned to the individual, not the vehicle, and so can be used by a disabled person in any vehicle in which he or she is traveling. This means that a disabled person who is being driven at different times by different people can bring the permit with him or her and display it in the appropriate vehicle. It is not necessary to have an adopted car in order to use the permit.