Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Blue Badge Scheme has a vital role to play in enabling blind or disabled people to travel independently, either as a driver or a passenger, by providing for parking near where they need to go.


Given the Scheme’s importance, I have been concerned by some of the experiences that have been reported to me by members of the public and by Assembly Members about the way that the Scheme is being implemented.  


It is also clear that there are questions about whether the eligibility criteria for the Scheme covers a sufficiently broad range of conditions.  


For example, people with cognitive impairments and their carers can face enormous barriers when travelling because a wide range of everyday stimuli can impact on behaviour.  In some cases this results in the person putting themselves in danger and also the people around them.


The Welsh Government made regulations this year to allow people to have a Blue Badge if they receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the highest rate because of the difficulties they face planning and following any journeys.  This includes people with cognitive and sensory impairments.  In fact Wales has led the way enabling people with cognitive impairments to be issued with a Blue Badge.


However, PIP is limited to people of working age and I recognise the importance of equal access.  People of all ages, who are unable to plan or follow a journey should be able to access the Blue Badge Scheme.  


To explore all these issues in more detail, I asked Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Director Wales \- Institute of Directors and Autism Employment Ambassador for Wales, to lead a group of experts to review the Blue Badge scheme in Wales, with a particular focus on considering eligibility criteria for people with cognitive impairments.  In addition, my Department gathered information on user experience of the Blue Badge Scheme through engagement with access groups and organisations that represent disabled people.  


From this work, there is no doubt that there is good practice by local authorities but it is also clear that this is not consistent across Wales and that some people are not receiving the level of service they have a right to expect.  


Robert Lloyd\-Griffiths’ Review Group thoroughly explored the complex area of designing eligibility criteria for people with a cognitive impairment and I am delighted to say that, in a very short time, they have identified an innovative solution to identifying need and assessing eligibility.


The Review Group also addressed a number of issues about the wider implementation of the Blue Badge Scheme, ways in which administrative processes could be improved and the need to appropriately tackle abuse of the Scheme.  I have considered the report and I am determined to implement its recommendations.  


I therefore intend amending legislation at the earliest opportunity to include people who are unable to travel safely, who are not eligible for PIP as a result of their age, so that they are eligible for the scheme.


I have instructed my officials to review the current application and assessment processes to develop consistent and robust guidance, decision\-making toolkit and standardised application forms.  These will be tested with local authorities this autumn.  


To ensure that applications under the new criteria are properly assessed, I am working with the Minister for Health and Social Services to explore the appointment of Blue Badge Ambassadors who would sit within the Local Health Boards and would deal with certain applications.  


I recognise that some current badge holders may be worried about the pressure on available parking spaces that more badges will create. I have instructed that work to improve enforcement action against abuse and misuse of the scheme is prioritised alongside extending eligibility.


The sum of these actions will mean a Blue Badge Scheme in Wales that identifies those people who should have access to these important parking concessions and a scheme that delivers more in Wales than is provided in the rest of the UK.


The Review Group’s Report has been placed on the Welsh Government website.


 







Translation:


 
Mae gan Gynllun y Bathodyn Glas rôl hollbwysig ar gyfer helpu pobl ddall neu anabl i deithio’n annibynnol, fel gyrwyr a theithwyr gan roi’r hawl iddyn nhw barcio gerllaw'r man lle maen nhw am fynd.

Mae’r Cynllun hwn yn bwysig iawn ond mae’r profiadau y mae aelodau’r cyhoedd ac Aelodau’r Cynulliad wedi’u rhannu â mi am y ffordd y mae’r Cynllun yn cael ei roi ar waith yn achosi cryn bryder i mi.

Mae hefyd yn glir bod cwestiynau’n cael eu gofyn a yw’r cynllun yn darparu ar gyfer amrywiaeth ddigonol o gyflyrau.

Er enghraifft, gall pobl sydd â namau gwybyddol a’u gofalwyr wynebu rhwystrau enfawr wrth deithio oherwydd gall amrywiaeth eang o bethau effeithio ar ymddygiad y dioddefwr.  Weithiau, gall yr unigolyn beryglu’i hun a phobl eraill sydd o’i gwmpas.

Eleni, lluniodd Llywodraeth Cymru reoliadau sy’n caniatáu pobl i gael Bathodyn Glas os ydyn nhw’n cael Taliad Annibyniaeth Bersonol (PIP) ar y gyfradd uchaf oherwydd yr anawsterau y maen nhw’n eu hwynebu wrth deithio a chynllunio teithiau.  Mae hyn yn cynnwys pobl sydd â nam gwybyddol a nam ar y synhwyrau.  Yn wir, mae Cymru’n arwain y ffordd o ran rhoi Bathodynnau Glas i bobl sydd â nam gwybyddol.

Fodd bynnag, mae PIP yn gyfyngedig i bobl o oedran gwaith ac rwy’n cydnabod bod cydraddoldeb yn bwysig o ran pwy sy’n cael ymgeisio am Fathodyn Glas.  Dylai pobl o bob oed sydd ddim yn gallu teithio na chynllunio teithiau ymgeisio am Fathodyn Glas.

Er mwyn gallu trafod yr holl broblemau hyn mewn mwy o fanylder, rwyf wedi gofyn i Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Cyfarwyddwr Cymru – Sefydliad y Cyfarwyddwyr a Llysgennad Cyflogaeth Awtistiaeth Cymru, arwain grŵp o arbenigwyr i adolygu Cynllun y Bathodyn Glas yng Nghymru, gan ganolbwyntio’n benodol ar y meini prawf cymhwysedd i bobl sydd â nam gwybyddol.  Hefyd, mae fy Adran wedi casglu gwybodaeth am brofiadau pobl sydd â Bathodyn Glas trwy gysylltu â grwpiau a chyrff sy’n cynrychioli pobl anabl.

Mae’r gwaith hwn wedi dangos i ni bod gan rai awdurdodau lleol arferion da ond mae hefyd wedi dangos i ni nad oes cysondeb ar draws Cymru ac nad yw rhai pobl yn derbyn y lefel o wasanaeth y mae ganddyn nhw’r hawl iddo.  

Aeth Grŵp Adolygu Robert Lloyd\-Grffiths ati i archwilio’n fanwl y maes cymhleth o lunio meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer pobl sydd â nam gwybyddol ac mae’n bleser gennyf gyhoeddi ein bod, mewn cyfnod byr iawn wedi dod o hyd i ateb arloesol i nodi anghenion ac asesu cymhwysedd.

Hefyd, trafododd y Grŵp Adolygu nifer o broblemau ehangach am Gynllun y Bathodyn Glas – sut i wella’r prosesau gweinyddol a thaclo problem camddefnyddio’r Cynllun.  Rwyf wedi ystyried yr adroddiad ac yn benderfynol o roi’r argymhellion sydd yn yr adroddiad ar waith.

Felly, rwy’n bwriadu diwygio’r ddeddfwriaeth cyn gynted â phosibl fel bod pobl nad ydyn nhw’n gallu teithio’n ddiogel a phobl nad ydyn nhw’n gymwys i gael PIP oherwydd eu hoedran yn gymwys ar gyfer y cynllun.

Rwyf wedi gofyn i’m swyddogion adolygu’r prosesau ymgeisio ac asesu presennol er mwyn datblygu canllaw sy’n gadarn ac yn gyson, pecyn cymorth gwneud penderfyniadau a ffurflenni cais safonol.  Bydd y rhain yn cael eu profi gan yr awdurdodau lleol ym mis Hydref.

Er  mwyn sicrhau bod y ceisiadau o dan y meini prawf newydd yn cael eu hasesu’n briodol, rwy’n gweithio gyda’r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i drafod y posibilrwydd o benodi Llysgenhadon y Bathodyn Glas fydd yn aelodau o Fyrddau Iechyd Lleol ac yn ymdrin â rhai ceisiadau.

Rwy’n deall efallai y bydd rhai deiliaid bathodyn glas yn poeni na fydd digon o feysydd parcio ar gael os caiff rhagor o fathodynnau eu creu.  Rwyf wedi gofyn i waith gael ei wneud i wella’r camau gorfodi yn erbyn unrhyw un sy’n camddefnyddio’r cynllun a bod y gwaith hwn yn ogystal ag ymestyn y camau cymhwysedd yn cael blaenoriaeth.

Canlyniad y camau hyn fydd sicrhau mai pobl sy’n gymwys i gael y Bathodyn Glas yng Nghymru fydd yn cael defnyddio’r mannau parcio yr anabl a chynllun sy’n cyflawni mwy yng Nghymru nag sy’n cael ei gyflawni yng ngweddill y DU.

Mae Adroddiad y Grŵp Adolygu ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru.