AQW 8692/16-21

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/12/2016
Answered On Date: 20/12/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on reassessments for the Blue Badge Scheme.

Answer:

Following a request for clarification, on 8 December your office added the following: “It refers to the backlog and specifically to communication with Blue Badge holders about whether they are allowed to use expired badges while the backlog is cleared.”

The normal timeframe for turnaround for a Blue Badge application is between four and eight weeks. As of the 12 December 2016 there were 3,332 applications to be processed of which 14 were over the eight week timeframe.

Measures aimed at communication with Blue Badge holders about whether they are allowed to use expired badges include the following:

Applicants who hold an expired badge and have sent in a renewal application are being advised that traffic attendants on street and in council car parks, will not issue parking tickets to any badge displayed that has expired after 1 September 2016. This information is also available to the public on the NI Direct website.

The main organisations such as The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and The Department of Health who have responsibilities for disseminating information to hospitals and businesses, such as private car park operators, have also been informed about the situation and were notified once again of the latest position on the 2 December 2016.