Fraudulent claims for disabled parking permits could result in prison time and/or fines

Eva Osborne

From Thursday, it is an offence to provide false or misleading information while applying for, or renewing, a disabled parking permit.

Fraudulent applications include those from individuals who supply false medical information, or attempt to renew a permit for a family member who has died.

The new legislation will enable prosecution of people making fraudulent applications for disabled parking permits, with penalties being a fine of up to €2,500 and/or up to six months in prison.

The Department of Transport said disabled parking bays are a scarce resource and are provided on public roads and car parks for drivers and passengers who have severely impaired mobility.

The permit is intended to benefit people who are most directly disadvantaged by parking that does not meet their needs.

In recent years, the department said it has worked closely with gardaí and the permit issuing bodies, the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI), who have reported rising numbers of fraudulent permit applications.

In 2023, the department made it an offence to use a disabled parking permit other than for the benefit of the person to whom the permit was granted.

Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said: “Permit application fraud is not a victimless crime. Obtaining a disabled parking permit through dishonest means undermines the disabled parking scheme, and compromises the availability of accessible spaces for those who genuinely need them.

"I welcome the fact that An Garda Síochána now have the appropriate powers to prosecute those who might want to take advantage of the scheme, and I believe that legitimate permit holders will greatly benefit from the deterrent effect of this new offence and penalty.”

National Transport Manager for the IWA, Tony Maher, said: “The Irish Wheelchair Association welcome this new legislation. Having access to disabled parking spaces is essential for many motorists with disabilities.

"This legislation will enable the enforcement authorities to ensure that these disabled parking spaces are only used by those with genuine needs.

"It will, along with recent increases in fines for illegal use of parking permits, greatly assist in the proper management of these very valuable parking spaces.”