|
Disabled Persons Badge Scheme for Northern Ireland
This section offers a guide to the parking scheme in Northern Ireland for
people with certain disabilities (the Blue Badge Scheme). The purpose
of the scheme is to give disabled people the ability to park on-street, close
to the facilities and services they need so as to improve their lifestyle, independence
and freedom of choice. If you need more detailed information please
contact us. The scheme only applies to on-street
car parking. For off-street car parking such as shopping centres and multi-storey
car parks, badge holders must check the concessions offered, as these can vary
widely.
The Blue Badge Scheme has replaced
the Orange Badge Scheme. From 1 April 2003 Orange Badges
are no longer valid. Click here to
read Frequently Asked Questions.
Pemit to access a pedestrian zone (White Badge)
Access to a pedestrian zone requires a further permit to be issued by the relevant Divisional office. This allows for access for disabled persons, residents living in the zone and for banking / business purposes, subject to meeting the current criteria.
View / download application form for Armagh
View / download criteria for Armagh
Blue Badge Scheme
|
What is the Disabled Persons Badge Scheme?
|
|
The Scheme provides parking concessions for:
|
|
People with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers
|
| |
Registered blind people
|
| |
People with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle
but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand
|
|
You can get a Blue Badge if:
|
| |
You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living
Allowance
|
|
You are registered blind
|
| |
You get an allowance towards your own vehicle from a Health and Social Services
Board
|
| |
You use a vehicle supplied by the Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre, Musgrave
Park Hospital
|
| |
You receive a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
|
| |
You have a permanent and substantial disability which means you
are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty walking. In this case
your doctor may be asked to answer a series of questions to help the Disabled
Persons Badge Scheme Central Office determine whether you are eligible for a
Badge
|
| |
You have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive
a motor car but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand even if that wheel is
fitted with a turning knob
|
The Blue Badge application form provides a complete list of the qualifying criteria.
NOTE: Children under two years of age do not normally qualify
for a badge because they would not normally be expected to be able to walk independently.
Organisations which transport disabled people may be eligible for a badge.
|
Where to apply:
|
|
If you think you may be entitled to a Badge you should send your application
form to:
|
|
|
Disabled Persons Badge Scheme Central Office
Castle Barracks
Wellington Place
Enniskillen
Co. Fermanagh
BT74 7HN
|
|
|
Telephone: (028) 6634 3700
|
|
|
Fax: (028) 6634 3730
|
|
|
To e-mail us, click here.
|
|
You will be informed if you are / are not entitled to a badge within 15 working
days of the date of receipt of your application. If information to support
your application has to be requested from your doctor you will be informed if
you are / are not entitled to a badge on receipt of that information.
Your application form will be returned to you if it is incorrectly completed.
|
|
How much does it cost?
|
|
The fee is £2.00. Cheques or Postal Orders should be made payable to
the Department for Regional Development. Cash should not be sent through
the post.
|
|
Photographs:
|
|
The Disabled Persons Badge is a two-sided card with space for a
photograph of the badge holder on the back. Your application should, therefore,
be accompanied by two recent photographs, which you should sign on the back.
You may send passport-type photographs taken from self-service booths or any
suitable photographs cut down to a passport photograph size.
|
|
Do I need to send anything else?
|
|
If you answer Yes to any of the questions in Part B of the Application
Form you must provide the appropriate certificate or letter of award
/ confirmation.
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I automatically receive a new badge when my current one expires?
Does everybody have to re-apply for a new badge?
Do you send out renewal notifications?
How long will it take to get a badge?
Do I have to send 2 recent photographs?
I have broken my leg. Can I have a badge?
I have two cars. Can I have two blue badges?
My badge has been lost / stolen. What should I do?
|
Do I automatically receive a new badge when my current one
expires?
|
| |
No. You will need to reapply by completing a new application form about 8
weeks before your current one expires.
|
|
Does everybody have to re-apply for a new badge?
|
| |
Yes. Even If you have had several previous badges over the years,
new applications should be completed in every case.
|
|
Do you send out renewal notifications?
|
|
Yes. Badges last for three years. Renewals are sent out 4-8 weeks before the
badge is due to expire. We will send you a letter, a form to complete and an
addressed return envelope. If you have not received your letter 3 weeks before
the expiry date of your badge, contact us.
|
|
How long will it take to get a badge?
|
|
If you are eligible for a badge we will issue it within 15 working days of
receipt of your completed application form.
|
|
Do I have to send 2 recent photographs?
|
| |
Yes. This is a safeguard to prevent misuse of the badge and is very
important. We do request passport-sized photographs but if this is very
difficult we can accept suitable photographs that we can cut down to size.
|
|
I have broken my leg. Can I have a badge?
|
| |
No. Badges are only issued where a condition / disability is permanent.
Temporary conditions, such as a broken leg, or conditions where the effect of
a disability is intermittent in nature are not eligible for a blue badge.
|
|
I have two cars. Can I have two blue badges?
|
| |
No. We can only issue one badge per person. The badge should only
be displayed when using the parking concessions and not left permanently in
the car.
|
|
My badge has been lost / stolen. What should I do?
|
| |
You must report the lost / theft to the Police and inform the Issuing Office
at Castle Barracks, Enniskillen (Tel (028) 6634 3700). You will need to supply
two passport-sized photographs before a replacement will be issued.
|
|
skip
navigation
