The medical criteria for issue of the EU parking permit are strict and only persons whose mobility is severely and permanently restricted qualify. These criteria were revised and clarified in the Department of Transport’s ‘Review of the Disabled Parking Scheme 2010’. The primary legislation for the purposes of EU parking permit defines a disabled person as:
“A person with a permanent condition or disability that severely restricts their ability to walk”
Applicants, with the exception of Primary Medical Cert holders or those already registered blind, must have a medical practitioner complete the medical section of the application, describing the applicant’s level of mobility and certifying the accuracy of same. As a general guideline the permit is aimed at persons who can only walk very short distances without assistance. Specific measures for the degree of impairment of lung capacity and the severity level of heart conditions which apply are given in the published Guidelines for Medical Practitioners
A Primary Medical Certificate is a certificate issued for the purposes of availing of the Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme. The certificate is granted following a specific examination by an independent HSE medical practitioner. The standard of mobility impairment is typically higher than for the EU Disabled Persons Parking Permit, therefore, holders are considered to qualify having already been certified as meeting the criteria. Primary Medical Certificate holders are required to submit a copy of their certificate with their application form in lieu of having the medical section completed.
Similarly, those who are visually impaired and are already registered blind with NCBI need only provide a copy of their registration in lieu of having the medical section completed.
