Study on blue sticker system

Applications for blue stickers, allowing persons with disabilities to park in reserved bays, have shot up by 75 per cent in just one year.

Though the National Commission Persons with Disability received 824 fresh applications last year, it recommended that the Police Commissioner issue 806 blue stickers. Meanwhile, 306 were withdrawn.

Despite the steep rise in applications, the number of public reserved parking spaces across the island remained static at 300 spots, it emerged at a press conference yesterday to launch the commission's annual report.

"We could consider having the number of such public reserved parking spaces increased. However, we have to be careful, because if they are not used, there will be a backlash from the public," commission secretary Alfred Bezzina said.

On the other hand, in certain localities, the few reserved spaces available were at a premium and at times they were used by drivers not holding the blue sticker.

Clyde Puli, Nationalist MP and president of Parliament's Social Affairs Committee , highlighted the fact that Malta had an ageing society and it was important to look into the implications, because it was useless having such a large number of blue stickers issued each year if the system was no longer sustainable.

On this issue, the commission said it will be studying the situation because it suspected that at times the blue sticker could be abused.

The commission is suspecting that the blue sticker, which is registered on the person and not the car to allow better mobility, could be passed on to other family members and photocopied.

The blue sticker, which has recently been modified to conform with the EU's system, has the disabled symbol on the front and the holder's photo and the details on the back.

The front of the sticker is usually displayed on the vehicle's dashboard, which makes it easy for a third person to use it and have access to the reserved parking spaces.

The commission is hoping that its study into the matter will be finalised in a short time to ensure that all the necessary steps are taken.

Moving on to another subject, commission chairman Joe Camilleri said that last year the commission received 1,096 new applications for special identity cards, an increase of 31 per cent.

The commission said it registered little success in its efforts to ensure that the agency Sapport, the day services for disabled adults, and the apparatus fund received more financial backing.

Meanwhile, the commission was also working to find a temporary solution to the problem related to the transition of disabled students from special schools to the day services for disabled adults.

Mr Camilleri gave a description of all the commission's activities during the year and an update on the number of applications submitted in the various sectors relating to disability matters.