Disabled Drivers Association

Framework for new Vehicle Adaptation Scheme announced

Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, today announced details of the new Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS), following Government approval of proposals in July. Read the full press-release - https://ddai.ie/news

Sounds like a great idea 💡

For people with disabilities, finding an accessible parking space isn't always easy. These spaces are often in high demand, are sometimes of poor quality and are occasionally wrongly used by people without a disabled parking permit. ♿

That's where Ryan Duncan comes in. After years of frustration with finding good accessible parking spaces, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He's now launched an accessible parking app called Close to the Door where users can share information about parking spaces, such as how big they are, if there’s room for a ramp and if they’re generally fit for purpose.

Read the full story in the latest issue of Spoke Out here: https://link.iwa.ie/4y2zWIA

Minister Foley and Minister of State Higgins announce up to €2.9m in grants from the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund This website uses cookies to collect information about how you use this site. This information is used to make the website work as well as possible. More details are available in our cookie and privacy policies.

Great news for the Friedreich ataxia community in Ireland.

The Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland warmly welcomes the HSE's decision to approve reimbursement of Skyclarys for eligible adults living with Friedreich ataxia.

This didn't happen by accident. It comes after months of campaigning, and it happened because the whole community came together, people right across Ireland got behind it and stood with those living with Friedreich ataxia and their families.

Skyclarys is the first approved treatment for the condition. It isn't a cure. But for those who are eligible, it offers something that hasn't been on the table before: the chance to slow the progression of a rare, inherited and life-limiting condition.

That means hope. And it means the real possibility of holding on to quality of life and independence for longer.

To everyone who signed, shared, wrote, phoned and kept this on the agenda – well done and congratulations.

Read the full article here: https://ddai.ie/news

Proposed introduction of a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS)

Have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2YYZY3L

We are asking DDAI Members and key stakeholders to complete a short survey to help us understand how the removal of some or all existing supports could affect disabled drivers and passengers, their families and carers.

Proposed Introduction of a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Help Shape the Future of Our Ballindine Premises

If you are part of a local group, school, business, or the wider community. Take a short survey here - https://ddai.ie/news

The Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) has been based in Ballindine since the early 1970s, providing motoring advice and Parking Permits (Blue Badges) for people with disabilities across Ireland. We're proud to be part of this community — and we're excited to share some news.

We're planning to redevelop and repurpose parts of our premises in Ballindine, including our Community Hall and a separate Office Building, to create new spaces that can benefit local groups, schools, businesses, and the wider community.

Take a short survey here - https://ddai.ie/news

I recently visited one of DDAI’s valued charity partners, Motability Ireland, to check out the new fully electric Kia PV5 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV).

I also had the pleasure of meeting James Casserly who was on-site for a demonstration of the vehicle’s features and specifications.

For further information, visit:

https://motabilityireland.com/
https://tinyurl.com/rb8amv29

Proposed introduction of a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS)

We are asking DDAI Members and key stakeholders to complete a short survey to help us understand how the removal of some or all existing financial supports could affect disabled drivers and passengers, their families and carers, and others who rely on the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme (DDPTRS).

Your feedback will help DDAI represent members’ views and highlight the potential impact of any proposed changes.

If you would like to complete the short survey please visit - https://www.ddai.ie/news

Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland - Our blog New figures show that between January 2024 and June 2025, a total of 566 fixed charge notices were issued in the Kildare/Carlow Garda Division for parking in disabled bays without a valid permit.

Proposed Vehicle Adaptation Scheme — Have Your Say

DDAI is asking members and other interested parties to complete a short survey on the proposed Vehicle Adaptation Scheme and the possible removal of current financial supports under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme.

Please complete the survey here:
https://www.ddai.ie/news

Your feedback will help DDAI represent members’ views and highlight the potential impact any proposed changes could have on disabled drivers, disabled passengers, families, carers and people who rely on the current scheme.

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme was introduced by the Irish Government in 1968 to support people with disabilities to purchase and use a vehicle, either as a driver or as a passenger.

The current scheme provides important financial supports, including:

• Exemption from Vehicle Registration Tax
• Refund of VAT
• Exemption from motor tax
• Refund of duty paid on petrol and diesel, up to a maximum of 2,730 litres
• Exemption from toll charges on toll roads in the State

The proposed Vehicle Adaptation Scheme is a standalone scheme administered by the Department of Transport for drivers and passengers who require vehicle adaptations to enter, exit or operate a vehicle.

However, as currently outlined, the VAS does not include the wider financial supports available under the existing scheme.

While the Government has stated that the VAS is separate to the current Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme, DDAI is seriously concerned that the existing scheme may be removed completely, leaving only the VAS in place.

If this happens, many disabled drivers and passengers could be left significantly worse off financially, particularly those who rely on the current supports to purchase, adapt and run a suitable vehicle.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your views.

Proposed Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS)

We are asking DDAI members and other interested parties to complete this short survey to find out how the removal of any or all the current financial supports affect disabled drivers, disabled passengers, families, carers, and people who rely on the Disabled Drivers & Passengers Tax Relief Scheme.

Please click on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2YYZY3L to complete the survey.

Your feedback will help DDAI represent members’ views and highlight the potential impact of any proposed changes.

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme (DDPTRS) was introduced by the Irish Government in 1968 to support people with disabilities to purchase and use a vehicle, either as a driver or as a passenger.

The current scheme provides important financial supports, including:

• Exemption from Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT)
• Refund of VAT
• Exemption from motor tax
• Refund of duty paid on petrol and diesel, up to a maximum of 2,730 litres
• Exemption from toll charges on toll roads in the State

Proposed introduction of a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS)

The proposed Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS) is a standalone scheme administered by the Department of Transport for drivers and passengers who require vehicle adaptations to enable them to enter, exit or operate a vehicle.

However, as currently outlined, the VAS does not include the wider financial supports available under the existing DDPTRS.

While the Government has stated that the VAS is separate to the DDPTRS, the DDAI is seriously concerned that the existing scheme DDPTRS may be removed completely, leaving only the VAS in place.

If this happens, many disabled drivers and passengers could be left significantly worse off financially, particularly those who rely on the current supports to purchase, adapt and run a suitable vehicle.

Proposed Introduction of a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.