Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2006 which concerns the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air came into effect in full in Ireland on the 26th July 2008.  The overall intention of the Regulation is to offer persons with reduced mobility opportunities for air travel similar to others. From 26th July 2008, under Regulation EC 1107 / 2006, managing bodies of airports, such as DAA, have legal responsibility for the provision of assistance services to persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.

The Regulations state the following: "a disabled person or person with reduced mobility means any person whose mobility when using transport is reduced due to any physical disability (sensory or locomotor, permanent or temporary), intellectual disability or impairment, or any other cause of disability, or age, and whose situation needs appropriate attention and the adaption to his or her particular needs of the service made available to all passengers".

Passengers with reduced mobility who require assistance under this Regulation should inform their airline at least 48 hours prior to their intended departure. The assistance specified in this Regulation must be provided free of charge.

The DAA website states that after they have done this that "Passengers should then go directly to their check-in desk and inform airline staff during their check-in that they have requested assistance, at which point a representative from One Complete Solution ( their appointed operator for this servcie) who will arrive to provide assistance." You should check with your departure airport what the procedure is before you travel. 

Assistance should be given to disabled persons or persons with reduced mobility to enable them proceed from a designated point of arrival at an airport to their aircraft and from their aircraft to a designated point of departure at the airport. This facility should also include the assistance necessary for embarkation, disembarkation and transiting through an airport.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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