Over 100 disabled parking bays identified in Leitrim after Council review

Cllr Irene Guckian Rabbitte called for a review to ensure sufficient parking in all towns and villages, with the Council reporting 102 bays across Leitrim.

Leitrim County Council recently conducted a review of all disabled parking bays in towns and villages, finding a total of 102 bays.

The Council confirmed that its roads section can install new disabled parking “where there is a definite need.”

At September’s meeting of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Irene Guckian Rabbitte proposed carrying out a review to ensure that sufficient spaces are available throughout all towns and villages in the county.

Currently, there are 39 disabled parking bays in North Leitrim and 63 in South Leitrim. Cllr Guckian Rabbitte acknowledged it was “great to see” the review carried out but noted that Mohill, in particular, needs its disabled bays marked more clearly.

“Some people are parking in bays who don’t realise they are disabled parking bays and it’s only when they come back and see the sign that they realise where they’ve been parking. They need to be defined,” she said.

Cllr Cormac Flynn also highlighted that in Carrick-on-Shannon, the disabled parking bays are mostly on the left-hand side.

He acknowledged that this arrangement may make sense to most non-wheelchair users, who might presume the wheelchair user is a passenger, but it poses dangers for wheelchair users who are driving.

“People then have to get out of the car on the road,” Cllr Flynn said. “There’s none available on the right-hand side, which would allow the driver to establish themselves on the footpath in safety.” He requested that this issue be examined if funding allows.

Cllr Bohan additionally remarked that some people park in disabled bays intentionally and suggested that bigger fines should be imposed for such behaviour, describing it as “a despicable thing to do.”