***Press Release from the Department of Transport 27th March 2025***

It is now an offence to provide false or misleading information while applying for, or renewing, a disabled parking permit.

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. This may be because spaces are inaccessible; too far away from their destination; or too small to allow exit from a vehicle with a wheelchair, walking aid or oxygen equipment. Consequently, misuse of these permits further disadvantages those with disabilities.

The DDAI’s 55^th Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 12^th April 2025 in the the Connacht Hotel, Dublin Road, Galway.

We are pleased to announce that one of our guest speakers this year is Hildegard Naughton, the newly appointed Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for Disability.

We are also excited to welcome Geraldine Lavelle as a guest speaker. A two-time author, artist, and passionate advocate for people living with disabilities, Geraldine is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the normalisation of mobility aids. Her impactful work earned her the University of Galway's 2023 Alumni Award for Emerging Leader in her Community.

Join us for our annual gathering at The Connacht Hotel for a day filled with discussions, updates, and networking. This in person event is a great opportunity to connect with fellow members, share insights, and shape the future of our organisation.

If you are attending the event in person please REGISTER by clicking HERE

The (AGM) will be held in person and for those who are unable to attend can live stream the event.  You can view on your computer, tablet or phone.  Please register using this Zoom link – Please Click this link to register (you are required to pre-register).

Passengers traveling on Route 139, which operates between Blanchardstown and Naas, will now benefit from five state-of-the-art hybrid buses which were introduced to the route on 4th February 2025.

Read the full article here: Bus Route 139 get a new accessible bus

Mobility Mojo’s SaaS platform transforms the way organisations audit and improve the accessibility of their built environments based on regulations and the highest global accessibility standards developed by Mobility Mojo. The platform offers a standardised, cost-effective solution for capturing, tracking, benchmarking, and promoting accessibility across entire portfolios. Read the full article here

The Disabled Drivers Association are delighted to announce their involvement in the DiTL EU Project (Disabled People Inclusion and Training in Transport and Logistics) which aims to enhance equality and eliminate discrimination for people with disabilities in the transport and logistics sectors by improving access to training and employment. This 36-month initiative aims to improve access to training and employment for people with disabilities in the transport and logistics sector, where they remain underrepresented.

Some helpful information:

While our phone lines are fully staffed, we handle a large volume of calls daily. Please choose the correct extension to reach the department you need.

We respond to all emails in the order they are received, so we appreciate your patience.

We would greatly appreciate your feedback on a NEW project aimed at improving parking and enhancing the enforcement of accessible parking bays. Please take a moment to complete this short survey to help us achieve our goal: https://forms.office.com/e/AznKzaSyve

Older drivers have been urged to “keep going” as long as they can — and it is safe to do so — amid an increased climate of aggression and speed on the roads and more complicated road layout systems. Read the full article here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41492009.html