SteeringWheelWinter2022 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 5
STEERING Wheel
The review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled
Passengers Scheme was ongoing throughout
the year. We were a participant in the Transport
Working Group tasked with developing a
comprehensive Transport Support System
for people with disabilities. The final meeting
of the group saw the presentation of a draft
report, which will have amendments following
the meeting. A more detailed discussion of the
Review is available elsewhere. Separately, the
then Chairperson, Pat Carty and I, appeared
before the Dail Committee on Disability Matters
in relation to the same subject.
January 2023 sees the start of a new review; this
time of the Disabled Persons Parking Scheme.
While there was already a substantial agenda,
it also likely to be influenced by a separate
EU project to introduce some consistency
across Europe into the criteria under which a
person obtain a EU Disabled Persons Parking
Permit, which has just been announced. As an
administrator of the Scheme, the Association is
likely to be centrally involved in the review. We
wear one hat as an administrator of the Scheme,
but we also represent our members in terms
of their views on access and the operation of
the scheme and contributions in this regard are
welcome.
As many of you will know we conducted a public
survey through a professional company on issues
around the Scheme. We also conducted a survey
of our members exploring different questions
on the same topic. The results of both were
presented at the AGM and are available in the
Members area of the website. We will also be
making the results available to the review. We
have already supplied them to the ERSI, who are
doing some related research in the area.
Regarding DDAI’s other operations, our
Shopmobility units have fully returned to
operations and activity has steadily mounted
during the year. We once again supported
BLOOM in the Phoenix Park as well as our usual
services. We installed a new booking system
for equipment loans which is easier to use but
also offers more modern data security than the
original system, which dated from 2012. The
Shopmobility system is separate from the DDAI
central system. Our Financial Controller, Orla
Costello, will be integrating Shopmobility sales
and rental activity into the system from 2023 on.
As mentioned earlier we had our first live AGM
since April 2019. The seminars focussed on the
results of our surveys, the review of the Disabled
Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief
Scheme and new legislation in relation to the
abuse of Disabled Persons Parking Permits. At
the AGM proper we were pleased to welcome
two new directors, Leo Kavanagh and Peter
Gohery. The Board has also subsequently
appointed a new Chairperson with Seamus
Reidy stepping into the role. We wish Seamus
every success in his new position. We would
also like to make special mention of our
retiring Chairperson, Pat Carty, who has been
selfless in his time and led the Board through
the transition from Directors with roots in the
foundation of the Association, to a Board made
up of members who, like himself, joined when
the Association was well established. Pat has not
left us and continues to serve in an important
role as Treasurer. We would like to thank Emma
McManus and Sean O’Kelly who have chosen
not to continue to serve as Directors but whose
participation during the pandemic years was
important as many issues came to the Board for
decision.
The newly appointed Board has already begun
the process of developing a new three year
Strategic Plan for the Association which no doubt
will be presented at our next AGM. I would like
to thank our Director’s for their support in working
voluntarily on projects like the above that are
important to the progress of our Association.
I would also like to acknowledge our staff for
their dedication and commitment to fulfilling our
services, particularly, in the trying circumstances
of the last few months.
We have bright hopes for the coming year
despite the darkening clouds around us. We wish
our members a good end to 2022 and a better
year in 2023.
Kenneth Fox, CEO
Disabled Drivers Association
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