Madam Speaker, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed by the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit that the issue of providing additional parking facilities at Pointe du Diable does not fall on the purview of that Unit. However, as per information obtained from the Beach Authority, only two parking areas are currently available at the locus, both accommodating a total of 12 parking lots. These parking spaces have been provided by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change as part of the coastal protection works and partly by the National Heritage Fund as the Ruins of the French batteries located there is a national heritage site.

58 The topography of the land at Pointe du Diable as well as the geometry of the road make it very difficult for the provision of additional space as requested in the question. Being given that the place is a very popular view point, the available parking spaces are fully booked, particularly during weekends and vehicles even park on the roadside, thus giving rise to potential traffic hazards. As regard part (b) of the question, Madam Speaker, I have requested the TRMSU to consider the possibility of implementing appropriate traffic management measures along the coastal road at the locus with a view to improving road safety. The police have also been requested to step up the enforcement on inconsiderate on-street parking, particularly during weekends. Madam Speaker, as we are dealing with the issue of parking, allow me and I seek your indulgence for two minutes at most, to raise a problem faced by disabled persons in our towns. There are 80 parking spaces provided for disabled persons. My colleague, hon. Ashok Subron, Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, has recently drawn my attention last week to the fact that the parking slots earmarked for disabled persons are very often illegally occupied by other vehicle users. This causes undue hardships to those who really need these parking facilities for their commuting and access to essential services. To deter such practices, my Ministry is considering to introduce strong measures against contraveners. To that effect, the parking fines for illegal use of parking slots reserved for disabled persons will be reviewed upwards and we are thinking of doing this in the context of the revised parking rates that was announced by the hon. Prime Minister during budget time. As such, the present fine of Rs1,000 provided for such unlawful use of parking could be increased to Rs5,000, subject to government approval. As a last note, Madam Speaker, I, therefore, appeal to vehicle users to be very cautious and abstain from parking illegally in areas demarcated for disabled persons. Thank you.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Yes, Mr Seeburn!

Madam Speaker, being given that this is a very popular historical site, attracting lots of tourists and local visitors on weekdays and public holidays, will the hon. Minister consider the possibility of requesting the relevant authorities to remove the wooden

59 barriers that are next and adjacent to the existing canon itself and provide adequate parking facilities for the safety of the road users and the visitors?

I will ask the Traffic Management and the Road Safety Unit to liaise with the Ministry of Environment and to try and sort out this issue. Thank you.

Yes, hon. Third Member for Grand’ Baie and Poudre d'Or, will you wait for a few minutes please? Hon. Mohamed is stuck in the traffic. So, we will wait. Hopefully, he will be here. Let’s proceed for hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière! INVALID PENSIONS – PROPOSED MAJOR REFORMS – TIMELINE