AQW 29401/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 08/02/2022
Answered On Date: 14/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure why Tourette’s Syndrome is not recognised as a condition that can access a Blue Badge.

Answer:

No individual medical condition is recognised as a condition for which a Blue Badge can be awarded, rather it is how that medical condition affects the applicant’s mobility that is taken into consideration when assessing eligibility for a Blue Badge.

Tourette’s Syndrome would be considered to be a “hidden disability”, and could be considered under Section C3 of the Blue Badge application form. This enables a Blue Badge application to be submitted for those people with hidden disabilities, and it takes into consideration those who may be at risk of harming their own health and safety, or that of another person, or are unable to plan and undertake a journey without another person’s assistance.

For such applications, the Department asks the applicant’s GP to complete a mobility questionnaire and confirm that the applicant is unable to be left alone, e.g. needs the physical support of another person or that they are unable to understand common dangers outdoors and may present as a danger to themselves or others.