Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has examined the possibility of granting disabled parking badges for severely autistic persons and persons with an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24325/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The 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. One of the issues examined was eligibility for the scheme. Disability groups in particular were unhappy at the fact that some people were being issued with Disabled Parking Permits because they had particular medical conditions rather than an actual mobility impairment. 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.

The possibility of extending the eligibility criteria for the scheme to include people with autism or with certain forms of intellectual or cognitive impairment, has been raised on a number of occasions and the Department has consulted extensively with the joint issuing authorities of the scheme, who also represent people with disabilities, 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 must 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, thus disadvantaging those with restricted mobility who are currently eligible.