Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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743. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department intends on strengthening the rules and regulations around illegal parking in disabled parking spaces during the lifetime of this Government; the measures being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37681/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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744. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department made any proposals on strengthening the rules and regulations around illegal parking in disabled parking spaces in the draft national disability strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37684/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 743 and 744 together.

Ensuring the accessibility of transport, infrastructure and the built environment for people with disabilities is a key priority for Government.

Significant work continues to be undertaken on the finalisation of a new National Disability Strategy, and publication is expected shortly. The Strategy will provide a blueprint for the genuine advancement of the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will take ambitious action across a range of thematic pillars that, taken collectively, capture the issues that most affect disabled people in their day-to-day lives - education, employment, independent living, health, and transport.

Transport will be a significant Pillar of the Strategy and considerations around accessibility and mobility will be important dimensions with a focus on delivering co-ordinated actions across government and at local levels. The Disabled Parking Permit Scheme is set down in Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 and SI 182/1997 Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997. The provision of disabled parking spaces is the responsibility of each individual local authority, and the enforcement of carpark spaces is a matter for An Garda Síochána and local authority traffic wardens.