AQW 2882/16-21 Written question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether he plans a strategic review of the renewal process for blue badges.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 13 September 2016
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 13 September 2016
- Answer due by
- 28 September 2016
- Answered
- 27 September 201614 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
I am not planning a strategic review of the renewal process for Blue Badges at present.
The current Disabled Person Badge Scheme, Blue Badge renewal criterion, is based on the previous and present welfare benefits systems, which require assessments to be undertaken regularly, irrespective of the nature of the disability. Additionally, the Blue Badge scheme in the north is aligned to the scheme in Britain that requires all Blue Badges to be renewed every three years. As a result Item 5 of The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles), Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 made under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 states that “a disabled person’s badge shall be issued for a period of three years from and including the date on which it is issued.”
There are benefits of having a system in place that reviews all applicants’ requirements on a cyclical basis. These benefits include:
Having badges in circulation that have been subject to regular assessment;
Removing badges that have become no longer valid from circulation (thus reducing fraudulent use of the badge) where the applicant has moved out of the country or is deceased; and
Maintenance of an up to date record on all Blue Badge holders.
I should also like to point out, that following a consultation in 2012 on Blue Badges the following Blue Badge processing needs were identified:
new application form
new processing system
provision of a full on-line application facility
link to the GB’s Blue Badge Improvement Service (BBIS)
The current position regarding meeting these needs is as follows:
The new Blue Badge Processing system has been developed and is in use since July 2016.
An online application facility has been developed and went live on 23 September 2016.
Officials are working with The Department for Transport (GB) to resolve the contract issues and allow NI access to the BBIS service in April 2017.